Hundreds of thousands of civilians may be displaced, while international organizations warn of a worsening humanitarian crisis and risk to hostages held by Hamas.(Image Credits: The Conversation)
The Israeli military has commenced preliminary actions for a planned ground offensive in Gaza City, already establishing control over its outskirts, officials confirmed. The operation, approved by Defence Minister Israel Katz and set for presentation to the security cabinet later this week, is aimed at capturing the entire city and dismantling Hamas’s military infrastructure.
According to a military spokesman, troops are operating in the Zeitoun and Jabalia neighborhoods to lay the groundwork for the offensive. These early movements come amid calls for approximately 60,000 reservists to be deployed in early September to free up active-duty personnel for the operation.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are expected to be ordered to evacuate Gaza City, moving toward shelters in southern Gaza. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned that further displacement and escalating hostilities could worsen an already catastrophic humanitarian situation for Gaza’s 2.1 million residents.
French President Emmanuel Macron also voiced concerns, cautioning that the offensive “can only lead to disaster for both peoples and risks plunging the entire region into a cycle of permanent war.”
Speaking at a televised briefing, IDF spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin said Hamas is “battered and bruised” after 22 months of conflict. He added:
“We will deepen the damage to Hamas in Gaza City, a stronghold of governmental and military terror. We will target both above-ground and underground terror infrastructure and sever the population's dependence on Hamas.”
Defrin emphasized that the IDF has already begun preliminary actions, with troops holding key outskirts and locating weapons tunnels in Zeitoun. A third brigade is operating in Jabalia.
“We are taking all measures to minimize civilian harm,” he said, noting that Gaza City residents would be warned to evacuate.
Palestinian authorities reported that Israeli strikes on Wednesday killed 25 people, including three children and their parents in Shati refugee camp. Mahmoud Bassal, a spokesperson for Hamas-run Civil Defence, described conditions in Zeitoun and Sabra as “very dangerous and unbearable.”
Defrin acknowledged ongoing concerns for the 50 hostages still held by Hamas, 20 of whom are believed to be alive. Families have expressed fears that a ground offensive could endanger their loved ones.
The ICRC stressed that escalating military activity would likely intensify civilian suffering and threaten hostages, calling for immediate humanitarian access and a ceasefire.
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Mediators Qatar and Egypt have proposed a 60-day truce and the release of half the hostages, which Hamas reportedly accepted. Israel, however, insists on a comprehensive deal with the release of all hostages.
The current escalation follows the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on southern Israel, which killed around 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. Since then, at least 62,122 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza’s health ministry, figures widely cited by the UN and international observers.
