The Israeli military has officially commenced preliminary actions for a planned ground offensive aimed at capturing and occupying all of Gaza City. According to military sources, troops have already established a presence on the outskirts of the city. A military spokesperson indicated that forces are actively operating in the Zeitoun and Jabalia areas to prepare for the full-scale offensive, which has received approval from Defence Minister Israel Katz on Tuesday. This operation will be presented to the security cabinet for further discussion later this week.
To facilitate the ground offensive, approximately 60,000 reservists are being called up for early September, allowing active-duty personnel to focus on the operation. As the Israeli military gears up for this significant military action, it is anticipated that hundreds of thousands of Palestinians residing in Gaza City will be ordered to evacuate and seek shelter in the southern regions of Gaza.
During a televised briefing on Wednesday, Brigadier General Effie Defrin, spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), asserted that Hamas has been severely weakened after 22 months of ongoing conflict. "We will deepen the damage to Hamas in Gaza City," Defrin stated, referring to the area as a stronghold for the terrorist organization. He emphasized the IDF's commitment to dismantle Hamas's military infrastructure both above and below ground and to reduce the civilian population's reliance on the group.
Defrin clarified that the IDF is not delaying the operation. "We have begun the preliminary actions, and already now, IDF troops are holding the outskirts of Gaza City," he mentioned. Two brigades are actively engaged in the Zeitoun neighborhood, where they recently discovered an underground tunnel containing weapons, while a third brigade is operating in the Jabalia area.
To mitigate civilian casualties, the IDF has announced that residents of Gaza City will be warned to evacuate for their own safety. However, humanitarian concerns continue to rise, as a spokesperson for Gaza's Hamas-run Civil Defence agency, Mahmoud Bassal, described the situation in the Zeitoun and Sabra neighborhoods as "very dangerous and unbearable." Reports indicate that Israeli airstrikes have resulted in the deaths of 25 individuals across Gaza, including three children and their parents in the Badr area of the Shati refugee camp.
Brigadier General Defrin also highlighted the IDF's efforts to prevent harm to the 50 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza, with 20 believed to be alive. Families of the hostages have voiced concerns about the potential dangers posed by a ground offensive in Gaza City. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned of a catastrophic scenario for both Palestinian civilians and hostages if military activities escalate. The ICRC stated, "After months of relentless hostilities and repeated displacement, the people in Gaza are utterly exhausted. What they need is not more pressure, but relief." The organization emphasized the urgent need for access to essential supplies, including food, medical care, and safe shelter.
The ICRC has called for an immediate ceasefire and the unobstructed passage of humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza. Mediators from Qatar and Egypt are actively working to secure a ceasefire agreement and have proposed a 60-day truce along with the release of approximately half of the hostages. Hamas has reportedly accepted this proposal, while Israel has yet to provide a formal response, insisting on a comprehensive deal that includes the release of all hostages.
The current military campaign in Gaza was initiated in response to a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of around 1,200 individuals and the abduction of 251 others. Since the onset of this conflict, the health ministry in Gaza has reported a staggering death toll of at least 62,122 people, making it one of the most devastating humanitarian crises in recent history.
