On September 16, 2025, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) announced the launch of a significant ground offensive in Gaza City, the Gaza Strip’s largest urban centre. The military operation began overnight with two divisions pushing into the city’s heart, with a third division expected to join in the coming days. This assault marks a new, intensified phase in Israel’s campaign against Hamas, which Israel identifies as a terrorist organisation holding hostages and controlling Gaza.
Israeli officials described the operation as a critical effort to dismantle Hamas’s military infrastructure within Gaza City. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who ordered the offensive last month, called Gaza City the final stronghold of Hamas. He vowed that Israeli forces would operate with “great force” to eliminate the militant group’s capabilities. Residents were urged to evacuate, with Israeli authorities estimating that as many as 320,000 have fled, while approximately 650,000 remain in the city despite warnings of imminent danger.
The ground operation follows weeks of relentless bombings, including air strikes, tank fire, and naval shelling, which have dramatically damaged Gaza’s infrastructure and resulted in numerous civilian casualties. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz posted on social media, saying “Gaza is burning” as Israeli troops advanced with the goal of creating conditions for the release of hostages and defeating Hamas.
The offensive has prompted urgent humanitarian concerns. Many displaced Palestinians have sought refuge in southern Gaza, an area designated by Israel as a humanitarian zone, but overcrowding and shortages of food, water, and medical supplies have worsened the crisis. Humanitarian organisations have called for increased aid and access to protect civilians trapped in the conflict zone.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who visited Israel shortly before the offensive commenced, expressed U.S. support for Israel’s military actions while emphasising the urgency of a negotiated resolution. Rubio noted a narrow window for diplomatic efforts to end the war and called for the disarmament of Hamas and the release of hostages as essential conditions for peace.