The Israeli military announced it has launched the “preliminary actions” of a planned ground offensive to capture Gaza City, already securing its outskirts.
Troops are currently operating in the Zeitoun and Jabalia neighborhoods, laying the groundwork for a full-scale assault approved by Defence Minister Israel Katz, with further security cabinet approval expected later this week.
Around 60,000 reservists are being called up for early September to support the operation by freeing active-duty soldiers.
Hamas accused Israel of obstructing ceasefire efforts to continue what it called a “brutal war against innocent civilians.” Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of Gaza City residents are expected to be ordered to evacuate to shelters in southern Gaza ahead of the offensive.
The move has drawn condemnation from many international allies.
French President Emmanuel Macron warned it could trigger disaster and plunge the region into ongoing conflict. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) highlighted that increased fighting and displacement would worsen Gaza’s already dire humanitarian crisis affecting its 2.1 million residents.
The offensive follows the collapse of indirect ceasefire and hostage-release talks between Israel and Hamas last month.
IDF spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin described Hamas as “battered and bruised” after 22 months of conflict, vowing to further dismantle Hamas’ military infrastructure in Gaza City, a key stronghold. He stressed efforts to minimize civilian harm by warning residents to evacuate.
Currently, two brigades are active in the Zeitoun area—where they recently discovered a weapons-filled underground tunnel—and a third operates in Jabalia. Gaza’s Hamas-run Civil Defence agency reported deadly Israeli strikes, including an attack on a refugee camp home that killed a family with three children.
Defrin emphasized the IDF’s attempts to protect roughly 50 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza, with families fearing their safety amid the ground offensive.
The ICRC called for an immediate ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian aid, warning that intensified military action risks catastrophic suffering for civilians and hostages alike.
Mediators Qatar and Egypt have proposed a 60-day truce and the release of about half the hostages, a deal Hamas says it accepted. Israel has yet to respond formally but insists on a comprehensive agreement for the release of all hostages.
Hamas blamed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for obstructing any ceasefire, accusing him of rejecting mediators’ proposals.
The current Israeli operation follows the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on southern Israel, which killed about 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages. Since then, Gaza’s health ministry reports over 62,000 deaths in the territory, figures widely cited by the UN and others.
Israel maintains its demand for the full release of hostages, casting doubt on any partial ceasefire deal.
