Today's News: Israel Begins New Ground Offensive in Gaza City

The offensive has deepened the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with reports of widespread destruction, casualties, and mass displacement, and has drawn significant international condemnation.

Terrence Dorsey

Sep 16, 2025

Photo: Mahmood Issa/Reuters

Date: September 16, 2025
Summary: The Israeli military launched a long-anticipated ground offensive into Gaza City on September 16, 2025, following intense airstrikes and evacuation orders for civilians. Israel stated the operation aims to defeat Hamas and free remaining hostages, viewing Gaza City as a key stronghold. The offensive has deepened the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with reports of widespread destruction, casualties, and mass displacement, and has drawn significant international condemnation. Simultaneously, a United Nations commission accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, an accusation Israel vehemently denies. The United States expressed support for Israel’s right to defend itself, while European allies and humanitarian groups criticized the escalation.

Sources

Key Points

Ground Offensive in Gaza City: All articles confirm Israel launched an expanded or new ground offensive into Gaza City on September 16, 2025, after weeks of preparation and intense airstrikes.
Humanitarian Crisis and Civilian Flight: The operation is exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation, leading to widespread panic, destruction, casualties, and mass displacement of Palestinian civilians fleeing south.
Israeli Objectives: Israel states its primary goals are to defeat Hamas, dismantle its infrastructure, and secure the release of remaining hostages from the 2023 raid. Gaza City is described as Hamas’s “last important stronghold.”
United Nations Genocide Accusation: An independent United Nations commission released a report on the same day, concluding that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, an accusation Israel vehemently denies.
International Condemnation and US Support: The offensive has drawn significant international criticism from European allies (Britain, Germany) and humanitarian organizations, while the United States, under the Trump administration, has expressed support for Israel’s right to self-defense, though Secretary of State Marco Rubio also discussed the need for a negotiated end to the war.
Hostage Concerns: There are widespread concerns, including among some Israelis and defense officials, that the ground operation endangers the lives of the remaining hostages held by Hamas.
Intense Bombardment: The ground assault was preceded and accompanied by heavy aerial and artillery bombardments, described by residents as “insane” and “terrifying.”

Unique Highlights

The New York Times notes that the Israeli military said 350,000 Gaza City residents had already evacuated, though an estimated half a million people are believed to still be in the city. It quotes Britain’s Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper calling the offensive “utterly reckless and appalling” and Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul saying Israel was on “the wrong path.”
CNN highlights that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision underscores his willingness to defy global pressure, notes that Gaza City had largely avoided the fate of destroyed cities like Rafah and Khan Younis until now, and mentions that the assault was supposed to begin after the population evacuated to al-Mawasi, with only 5 of 16 planned US-backed aid facilities currently open.
Fox News identifies the offensive as a continuation of “Operation Gideon’s Chariots” and specifies that the Israeli air force struck more than 850 targets in Gaza City in the preceding week.
The Washington Post notes that the expansion of the operation began “late Monday” and that troops entered with “fire support from the air and sea.” It also specifies that the plan to occupy Gaza City was approved by the Israeli cabinet in early August and that Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Doha was aimed at stemming regional anger over a previous Israeli strike targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar who were discussing a new US ceasefire proposal.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks to end the war with military force instead of diplomacy, and mentions that the UN report could bolster charges of genocide against Israel at the International Court of Justice. It also cites Israeli and Arab officials estimating tens of thousands of Hamas fighters, many being new recruits, and notes that Israel’s security establishment pushed back against the plan in favor of a limited hostage deal.
BBC provides specific financial details of displacement, such as a family selling jewelry and paying 3,500 shekels (£735) for a ride to Khan Younis, and the cost of renting a small truck (3,000 shekels) or buying a tent (4,000 shekels). It also mentions Marco Rubio’s visit to a “contentious tunnel excavated under Palestinian homes in occupied East Jerusalem” and a BBC diplomatic correspondent drawing parallels between reactions to Israel and apartheid-era South Africa.
El Pais states that the Israeli army had claimed to control up to 40% of the municipal area of Gaza City before the new offensive, and reports a clash between Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and the government regarding the lack of a clear next step for the military. It also highlights the Netanyahu government’s strategy of using hunger as a weapon of war, reporting 428 deaths from starvation, including 146 children.

Contrasting Details

Civilian Evacuation Numbers: Estimates for the number of civilians who have evacuated Gaza City vary:
- The New York Times states the Israeli military said 350,000 Gaza City residents had heeded previous evacuation orders, but “roughly half a million people are believed to still be sheltering in the city.”
- CNN reports the IDF said only about 40% of people have left so far, numbers which CNN cannot independently confirm, with approximately one million people living in and around Gaza City.
- Fox News states the IDF estimates 350,000 people have fled Gaza City (roughly one-third of the city’s population), but notes this “contradicts a U.N. estimate issued Monday that more than 220,000 Palestinians have fled northern Gaza over the past month.”
- The Wall Street Journal notes the U.N. estimated around 200,000 have heeded the call, while an Israeli military official said that number is closer to 350,000.
- El Pais states the Israeli army estimates 40% (some 400,000 civilians) have fled, while 600,000 civilians remain.

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