The Israeli military has initiated initial actions for a planned ground offensive to seize and occupy all of Gaza City, having already reached its outskirts. A military spokesperson confirmed that troops are operating in the Zeitoun and Jabalia areas to prepare for the offensive, which was approved by Defence Minister Israel Katz on Tuesday and will be reviewed by the security cabinet later this week. Approximately 60,000 reservists will be called up in early September to release active-duty personnel for the operation. Hamas accused Israel of impeding a ceasefire deal to prolong a “brutal war against innocent civilians,” as reported by Reuters.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza City are expected to be advised to evacuate to shelters in southern Gaza as Israel’s takeover plans progress. Many of Israel’s allies have criticized the plan, with French President Emmanuel Macron warning that it “can only lead to disaster for both peoples and risks plunging the entire region into a cycle of permanent war.” The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) cautioned that further displacement and intensified hostilities “risk worsening an already catastrophic situation” for Gaza’s 2.1 million residents. Israel announced its intention to capture the entire Gaza Strip after indirect ceasefire talks and hostage release negotiations with Hamas failed last month.
In a televised briefing, IDF spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin stated that Hamas was “battered and bruised” after 22 months of conflict. “We will deepen the damage to Hamas in Gaza City, a hub of governmental and military terror for the terrorist organization,” he said. The IDF is not delaying the operation, having already commenced preliminary actions and holding positions on the outskirts of Gaza City. Two brigades are active in the Zeitoun area, where they discovered a tunnel with weapons, and a third brigade is operating in Jabalia. To “minimize harm to civilians,” Gaza City’s residents will be advised to evacuate for their safety. Mahmoud Bassal, a spokesman for Gaza’s Hamas-run Civil Defence agency, described the situation in Zeitoun and Sabra as “very dangerous and unbearable.”
Israeli strikes have reportedly killed 25 people in Gaza, including a family in the Badr area of Shati refugee camp, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Defrin stated that the IDF is taking measures to avoid harming the 50 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, 20 of whom are believed to be alive. These hostages’ families are concerned they could be at risk from the offensive. The ICRC warned of a dire situation for both Palestinian civilians and hostages if military action in Gaza increases.
The ICRC emphasized the need for relief, not added pressure or fear, urging for essentials necessary for dignified living: food, medical supplies, clean water, and safe shelter. Any further military intensification will exacerbate suffering, tear families apart, and risk an irreversible humanitarian crisis, potentially endangering hostages’ lives. The ICRC called for an immediate ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian assistance across Gaza.
Mediators Qatar and Egypt are seeking a ceasefire agreement with a 60-day truce proposal and release of about half of the hostages, reportedly accepted by Hamas. Israel has not yet formally responded but demands a comprehensive deal that includes the release of all hostages. Hamas accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of rejecting the ceasefire proposal, labeling him as obstructing any agreement. The Israeli military launched an operation in Gaza following a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 kidnappings. At least 62,122 people have died in Gaza since then, based on figures from the territory’s health ministry, considered the most reliable statistics on casualties by the UN and others.