The IDF believes that terrorists have taken full advantage of the situation and that there is such a strong Hamas military presence in the area that it will take two months of hard work by at least two brigades to clear it of the terrorists.

By Batya Jerenberg

A potential major IDF ground operation was signaled for central Gaza on Sunday as the army’s Arabic spokesman called on residents of southwestern Deir al-Balah to evacuate their homes.

“We are widening our actions to an area where we haven’t acted in the past,” Avihai Adraee announced. “Please evacuate to the humanitarian zone in Muwasi,” in southern Gaza.

Deir al-Balah and its neighboring refugee camp have so far been left largely intact by Israeli forces since the latest major ground incursion began in March, with pinpoint strikes taking place rather than wholesale maneuvers.

This reprieve was due primarily to the fear of endangering at least some hostages that army intelligence believes may be held captive in the area.

According to satellite photos published last week in Haaretz, more than half the buildings in Deir al-Balah remain standing—the only city in the Strip where that is the case.

Several of the hostages who were freed in previous cease-fire deals with Israel had macabre “release ceremonies” take place in the town, and the filmed handovers showed no widespread destruction there.

The IDF believes that terrorists have taken full advantage of the situation and that there is such a strong Hamas military presence in the area that it will take two months of hard work by at least two brigades to clear it of the terrorists.

The standard warning given to civilians to move so they would not be endangered in battle zones comes amid a strong IDF push in which many dozens of terrorists have been killed, hundreds of their facilities and several miles of tunnels have been destroyed.

Even as cease-fire negotiations continue in Qatar, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have repeatedly stated their view that only strong military pressure on Hamas will lead to the release of the remaining 20 live and 30 dead hostages still held in Gaza.

The Tikvah Forum of hostages’ families believes in this strategy as well, but the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents a majority of the relatives of those abducted during the Hamas-led invasion of Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, immediately reacted with trepidation.

The families are “anxious and shaken by the news that the IDF intends to operate in areas in central Gaza where it has not yet operated,” said a statement released by its headquarters.

“Can anyone promise us that this decision will not come at the cost of losing our loved ones?” it continued.

Shape“We expect the prime minister, the defense minister and senior IDF officials to urgently explain to Israeli citizens and families what the combat plan is and how exactly it protects the abductees who are still in Gaza.”