Five divisions are expected to take part in the push to deliver a decisive blow against the terrorists.
By Batya Jerenberg
Israel confirmed Tuesday morning that the IDF had launched its long- expected ground offensive into Gaza City the night before.
Speaking before resuming testimony in his long-running trial on corruption charges, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated, “We have begun a powerful operation in Gaza City.”
IDF Arabic Spokesperson Col. Avichay Adraee confirmed that the army has “begun destroying Hamas infrastructure” after “powerful preparatory attacks” over the last two weeks.
The air force struck over 850 terror targets, including dozens of high-rise buildings Hamas used as military positions and surveillance points in the city, after warning residents to evacuate.
In a first, Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir personally led the first troops into battle, alongside Southern Command head Maj. Gen. Yaniv Asor.
Five divisions are expected to take part in the push to deliver a decisive blow against the terrorists.
The 162nd and 98th Divisions are leading the maneuver in the western part of the city, with the 36th Division gradually joining over the coming days.
The 99th and Gaza Divisions meanwhile surround the city and will act as a protective shield for the invading force.
The IDF has called up 130,000 reservists by emergency order to reinforce the regular army, and the ground and air troops aim to bring an end to the war with this offensive.
“We already control 40% of the city’s area and are sparing no effort to protect our soldiers,” the IDF statement said.
“We are resolute and offensive, we have militarily defeated Hamas wherever we have fought it, and we will act until the Hamas regime collapses…. There are no shortcuts and we cannot allow Hamas to control Gaza City the day after.”
The army is operating while keeping the hostages Hamas is still holding “before our eyes,” the statement added, in a nod to the danger facing the 20 of the 48 still believed to be alive.
Hamas warned days ago that it would put its captives in harm’s way in Gaza City, in an effort to deter the offensive.
Adraee repeated the Israeli call, made for weeks through leaflets, personal phone calls and social media, for all residents to immediately to the southern humanitarian zone where he said they would be safe and receive all the shelter, food, water and medicine they need.
“Gaza City is considered a dangerous combat zone, staying in the area puts you at risk,” he wrote on X.
The army has calculated that more than 350,000 of the roughly 1 million residents have evacuated the city, despite Hamas’ “cruel” efforts to keep civilians in place.
Hamas has threatened civilians away from evacuation routes so it can use them as human shields, as it has throughout the war.
The IDF estimates there are a few thousand Hamas fighters in the city, but victory could take “long months” because of the guerrilla tactics the terrorists have used for about a year instead of engaging in sustained assaults.
Before the official announcement Tuesday of what is being called Operation Gideon’s Chariots II, the air force conducted an especially intense night of bombing across the Strip, which could be heard as far away as central Israel.
Defense Minister Israel Katz said of the strikes: “Gaza City is burning. The IDF is striking the terror infrastructure with an iron fist. We will not relent, and we will not back down until the mission is completed.”
