TOP INTERNATIONAL STORY: Israel Begins First Phase of Gaza City Assault Amid Global Alarm
Military Holds Outskirts as Troops Advance Into Zeitoun and Jabalia
GAZA CITY / TEL AVIV — The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have officially launched the first stage of a planned ground offensive to capture and occupy Gaza City, marking a dramatic escalation in the nearly two-year-long war with Hamas.
In a televised briefing late Wednesday, IDF spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin confirmed that Israeli troops are already operating inside the Zeitoun and Jabalia neighborhoods, laying the groundwork for a broader assault approved by Defense Minister Israel Katz earlier this week.
“We have begun preliminary actions,” said Defrin. “IDF troops are now holding the outskirts of Gaza City. We will deepen the damage to Hamas — above and below ground — and sever the population’s dependency on this terrorist group.”
60,000 Reservists Called Up for September Deployment
To sustain the operation, Israel has begun mobilizing 60,000 reservists to free up active-duty personnel. The plan, expected to be formally presented to Israel’s security cabinet later this week, comes after ceasefire negotiations collapsed in July.
The offensive could lead to the forced displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians, with warnings already issued for residents to evacuate toward southern Gaza. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned that further escalation risks pushing Gaza’s 2.1 million people into an irreversible humanitarian crisis.
Humanitarian Concerns Mount
The ICRC released a stark statement, calling for an immediate ceasefire and the unimpeded delivery of aid, warning:
“Any further intensification of military operations will only deepen the suffering, tear more families apart, and threaten an irreversible humanitarian crisis. The lives of hostages may also be put at risk.”
On Wednesday, 25 Palestinians, including three children and their parents, were reported killed in strikes across the territory, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run Civil Defence agency. One of the attacks hit the Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City.
Pressure on Hostage Negotiations
While the IDF insists it is working to avoid civilian casualties and protect the roughly 50 hostages still believed to be in Gaza, concerns are growing. Of the hostages, 20 are thought to be alive. Their families have warned that the ground assault may endanger their lives.
Meanwhile, Qatar and Egypt have proposed a 60-day ceasefire and partial hostage release, which Hamas said it accepted on Monday. However, Israel has not responded officially, with senior officials stating they reject any deal that does not ensure the release of all hostages.
Global Condemnation
The offensive has drawn sharp rebukes from Israel’s allies. French President Emmanuel Macron warned that the operation “can only lead to disaster for both peoples and risks plunging the entire region into a cycle of permanent war.”
Hamas, in a statement carried by Reuters, accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of deliberately sabotaging ceasefire efforts, branding him the “real obstructionist of any agreement.”
War’s Cost Mounts
The offensive follows the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel, in which 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage, prompting Israel’s military campaign.
Since then, at least 62,122 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to the enclave’s Health Ministry — figures widely cited by the UN and international observers as the most consistent data available.
What Comes Next?
As Israeli brigades tighten their grip on Gaza City’s periphery, international pressure mounts to halt the offensive and return to the negotiating table. But with both sides deeply entrenched and ceasefire talks stalled, the fate of Gaza — and the region — hangs in a precarious balance.
This is a developing story.
