Israeli army tightens grip on Gaza city amid heavy bombardments

Thursday 21 August 2025 - 12:19

By: Sahili Aya

Israeli army tightens grip on Gaza city amid heavy bombardments

The Israeli army has intensified its operations around Gaza City, launching new strikes and ground maneuvers in what it describes as a decisive offensive to seize the last major stronghold of Hamas in the Palestinian territory.

According to the military, five divisions — involving tens of thousands of soldiers — are engaged in the offensive, with an additional 60,000 reservists expected to be called up by early September. “Our forces are on the outskirts of the city, and we are creating the conditions to bring the hostages back,” said army spokesperson General Effie Defrin, adding that preliminary operations have already begun.

The security cabinet, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, had approved earlier this month a plan to capture Gaza City and surrounding refugee camps in order to establish full military control over the strip. Forty-nine hostages, including 27 who are believed to be dead, remain in Gaza from the 251 abducted during Hamas’s unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which triggered the ongoing war.

Witnesses reported heavy air and artillery bombardments across several neighborhoods, including Zeitoun, al-Sabra, Jabalia al-Balad and al-Nazla. Thousands of residents have been forced to flee westward and southward. The UN Human Rights Office warned that Israeli strikes have caused “a high number of civilian casualties and large-scale destruction,” with many families left without safe shelter.

For Hamas, the offensive represents “a blatant disregard” for mediation efforts by Egypt, Qatar and the United States, which had proposed a 60-day truce combined with the release of hostages. While Hamas accepted the proposal, Israel has yet to formally respond. A government source said policy remained unchanged: the release of all hostages remains a prerequisite to end the war.

Defense Minister Israel Katz approved the operational plan on Wednesday, and Netanyahu is expected to convene his government for final approval. The prime minister has demanded that the timeline for defeating Hamas be accelerated, though no date has been specified.