Israeli Military Launches Major Ground Offensive in Gaza City as Thousands of Palestinians Flee Amid Heavy Strikes and Worsening Humanitarian Crisis

Published Time: 09-17-2025, 15:45

Israel has begun a major ground offensive in Gaza City, escalating a war that has already devastated the region and displaced hundreds of thousands. The operation, launched Tuesday, aims to weaken Hamas’ remaining forces, but it has also triggered mass civilian flight as families load belongings onto vehicles and head south along the crowded coastal road.

Israel Moves Ground Troops Into Gaza City

The Israeli military confirmed that troops advanced into Gaza City after weeks of aerial bombardments and preparations. Defense Minister Israel Katz declared, “Gaza is burning,” as tanks and soldiers began pushing from the city’s outskirts. Heavy shelling was reported overnight, striking areas already reduced to rubble after nearly two years of conflict.

Military officials, speaking anonymously due to protocol, said this marks the “main phase” of the campaign. Israel estimates that 2,000 to 3,000 Hamas fighters remain in Gaza City, primarily operating through tunnels and conducting guerrilla-style attacks. Israeli media reports suggest the offensive could take months to complete, with the goal of establishing control over nearly all of Gaza except a stretch along the coast.

UN Report Accuses Israel of Genocide

The ground assault coincided with a report by independent experts commissioned by the United Nations Human Rights Council, which accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. Israel rejected the report, dismissing the findings as “distorted and false.”

Civilian accounts highlighted the ongoing humanitarian toll. At Shifa Hospital, Saud al-Sakani wept over the bodies of her daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren after their home was destroyed. “An entire family!” she cried, noting that many victims remain buried under the rubble.

U.S. Diplomacy and International Response

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited the region on Tuesday, warning that “a very short window of time” remains to reach a ceasefire. While in Israel, Rubio acknowledged the need for negotiations, stating, “At some point, this has to end. At some point, Hamas has to be defanged, and we hope it can happen through a negotiation.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that President Donald Trump has invited him to the White House on September 29, after his scheduled address to the United Nations General Assembly. The meeting would mark Netanyahu’s fourth visit since Trump took office.

Meanwhile, Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen launched a missile that triggered sirens in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Israel said the projectile followed its own strikes on Hodeida, a Yemeni port city under Houthi control. The Houthis have repeatedly fired drones and missiles in what they call solidarity with Palestinians, though most have been intercepted.

Mass Displacement From Gaza City

Before evacuation orders, Gaza City was home to roughly one million residents. Israeli officials estimate that about 350,000 people have already fled, while the United Nations reported more than 220,000 departures from northern Gaza in the past month alone.

Those unable to leave face dire conditions. Ismail Zaydah, a 39-year-old resident, said he fled with only a few clothes. He described families setting up makeshift shelters in western Gaza City, often without sanitation. “People are sleeping among human waste because there is no place for them to go,” he told reporters.

Aid workers warn of deepening famine in the city, where food and clean water supplies are severely limited. Some residents reported being charged as much as $1,000 for rides to the southern “humanitarian zones” designated by Israel.

Rising Civilian Death Toll

Medical staff across Gaza reported intense bombardments overnight. Shifa Hospital recorded 49 bodies, including 22 children, while Al-Ahli Hospital reported 17 and Al-Quds received three. In total, at least 69 Palestinians were confirmed dead in Gaza City on Tuesday, according to Associated Press reporting.

Dr. Mohamed Abu Selmiya, Shifa’s director, described it as “a very tough night in Gaza,” adding, “The bombing did not stop for a single moment.”

The Israeli military did not respond to inquiries about the strikes but has consistently argued that Hamas embeds military infrastructure in civilian areas, complicating operations.

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 64,900 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, about half of them women and children. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and militants in its reporting.

Origins of the Conflict

The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants crossed into southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251 others. Israel says about 48 hostages remain in Gaza, fewer than half believed to be alive. Hamas has insisted it will only release captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a permanent ceasefire, and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

Hostage Families Urge Halt to Offensive

Families of hostages have staged protests outside Netanyahu’s residence, pleading for a pause in military operations. Anat Angrast, whose son Matan is held in Gaza, accused the prime minister of endangering hostages’ lives. “He knows that Matan is in immediate danger due to the Gaza operation, yet he decided to bomb him to death,” she said.

Israel estimates around 20 hostages remain alive. Relatives fear that the intensified military campaign will further reduce chances for their safe return.

Regional and Diplomatic Tensions

Rubio traveled on to Qatar after leaving Israel, where he met with the emir. Qatar, which has played a leading role in ceasefire negotiations, expressed anger over an Israeli strike last week that killed five Hamas members and a local security official. Rubio thanked Qatar for its mediation role and highlighted the close ties between Washington and Doha.

At a regional summit Monday, Arab and Muslim nations condemned Israel’s offensive but stopped short of adopting collective sanctions or other direct measures.