Israeli forces have launched a major ground invasion into Gaza City, the last major stronghold of Hamas in the northern Gaza Strip, resulting in at least 78 Palestinians killed by airstrikes and artillery since dawn on September 16, 2025. The operation, which marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict, comes after weeks of intensified bombardments and evacuation warnings, with the Israeli military aiming to seize control of the densely populated urban center. Residents described the assault as “heavy, relentless” bombardment, with explosions shaking buildings and trapping civilians amid widespread destruction.
The invasion follows Defence Minister Israel Katz’s declaration that “Gaza is burning,” vowing an “iron fist” approach to dismantle Hamas and secure the release of remaining hostages. Israeli officials confirmed the start of the main phase of the ground offensive, with troops advancing into neighborhoods like Zeitoun, Sheikh Radwan, and Shuja’iyya, where they have already controlled up to 40% of the city. Tanks and armored vehicles were reported rolling into areas such as Sabra, destroying infrastructure allegedly used by militants. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the move as “only the beginning” of a broader assault to end Hamas’s governance in Gaza.
Gaza’s Health Ministry reported the 78 deaths across multiple strikes, including on residential buildings, a bakery in the Nasser neighborhood that killed at least 12—mostly children—and high-rise towers accused of harboring Hamas operations. Civil defense teams pulled survivors and bodies from rubble, warning that dozens more may be trapped. The offensive has displaced thousands more, with hundreds of thousands of Palestinians—around 900,000 in Gaza City alone—fleeing southward under duress, crammed into overcrowded shelters in al-Mawasi and Khan Younis, where famine-like conditions prevail. Aid groups noted that relocation costs exceed $1,000 per family, and southern areas lack sufficient food, water, and medicine.
Humanitarian and International Fallout
The United Nations has condemned the invasion as exacerbating a genocide, with a recent inquiry labeling Israel’s nearly two-year war on Gaza as such. The IPC confirmed famine in Gaza City on August 22, 2025, with eight more deaths from starvation reported in recent days. Over 64,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 7, 2023, with 90% displaced, and estimates suggest up to 93,000 traumatic injury deaths by mid-2025. Hospitals like Al-Aqsa in Deir el-Balah are overwhelmed, with medical staff protesting evacuation orders and vowing to stay.
Arab and Muslim nations, including Qatar, denounced the strikes, particularly after an Israeli attack on Doha. International leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron warned of a “cycle of permanent war,” while the U.S. endorsed Israel’s conditions for ending the conflict: Hamas’s full disarmament, hostage release, Gaza’s demilitarization, and Israeli security control. Hamas accused Israel of a “brutal war against civilians” and rejected partial deals.
In Israel, reservists reported for duty amid concerns from military commanders about risks to hostages and troops, with over 431 IDF soldiers killed in Gaza operations by June 2025. Protests in Tel Aviv continue, demanding a hostage deal and war’s end. The invasion, part of Operation Gideon’s Chariots II, risks further regional escalation, including in the West Bank where violence has surged.
