Military action aims to dismantle Hamas infrastructure as civilian evacuations are urged.
On Tuesday, the Israeli military initiated a new ground offensive in Gaza City, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict. The operation, named “Operation Gideon’s Chariots II,” is aimed at destroying infrastructure allegedly linked to the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The Israel Defense Force (IDF) has stated that the objective of this military campaign is to achieve the war’s goals and to build upon the successes attained in prior combat operations.
According to the IDF, Gaza City has been classified as a dangerous combat zone. Military spokesperson Avichay Adraee urged residents to evacuate immediately to areas south of the Gaza valley for their safety, noting that over 40% of the city’s population has already left. This call for evacuation comes amidst reports of substantial civilian presence, with estimates suggesting around six lakh civilians, alongside thousands of alleged Hamas members, still within the city.
Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, emphasized the military’s commitment to striking what he described as terrorist infrastructure. In a statement on social media, Katz declared that IDF soldiers are bravely fighting to create conditions for the release of hostages and to defeat Hamas. He reiterated that there would be no retreat until the mission is completed.
As the ground operation commenced, reports indicated that Israeli airstrikes had already resulted in the deaths of at least 48 individuals in the Gaza Strip on the same day. In preparation for the ground offensive, the Israeli Air Force had targeted more than 850 sites in Gaza City over the past week.
The escalation began earlier in August when Tel Aviv announced intentions to take military control of Gaza City, a move that was subsequently approved by Israel’s Security Cabinet on August 20. Following this, on September 9, the Israeli military ordered an immediate evacuation of all residents in Gaza City and surrounding neighborhoods, signaling an intention to operate with significant force against Hamas.
The conflict has intensified since Hamas’s incursion into southern Israel in October 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 individuals and the taking of hostages. Since then, Israel has conducted extensive air and ground strikes in the besieged territory, leading to reports of over 62,600 casualties.
Compounding the humanitarian crisis, the UN declared a famine in northern Gaza in August, warning of a potential spread to nearby regions. Despite ongoing ceasefire discussions since July 6, efforts to reinstate a temporary ceasefire have stalled due to disagreements between the involved parties.
The military operation in Gaza City is occurring concurrently with a UN commission of inquiry’s findings that Israel has allegedly committed genocide against Palestinians. The report outlines several acts defined under international law as genocidal, supported by statements from Israeli leaders and observed patterns of conduct. Israel’s foreign ministry has dismissed the report as distorted and false, calling for the commission to be disbanded.
