IDF pushes deeper into Gaza City, targeting Hamas stronghold

The Israel Defense Forces said its troops are advancing deeper into Gaza City, moving into Hamas’s main stronghold as battles unfold above and below ground. Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said the operation has no alternative, framing it as a step to free hostages and dismantle militant networks. “Hamas has shown the world its true strategy: to exploit its own people and prolong this war,” Defrin said. “Our forces are working day and night, turning over every stone, to bring our hostages home, dismantle Hamas’s terror networks, and secure a safer region for all.”

The army noted that over the past week Hamas demonstrated tactics by firing on a U.N. team, using stolen United Nations vehicles to obstruct the building of a new road for aid deliveries, and robbing four UNICEF trucks at gunpoint, depriving thousands of infants of baby formula, Defrin said. “Hamas continues to block civilians from leaving combat zones, choosing to sacrifice Gaza’s residents rather than protecting them,” he added.

IDF soldiers and a Merkava tank were photographed in a destroyed urban area of Gaza City as troops pressed the push deeper into the city.

The IDF has carried out a wide-scale operation to warn civilians and move them away from the fighting, using tools such as voice messages, leaflet drops, text messages and phone calls. The military said it concurrently designated a humanitarian area in Khan Yunis and was working to expand related infrastructure in southern Gaza, including field hospitals, water pipelines, desalination facilities and the continued delivery of food, tents, medicine and medical equipment. Defrin noted that tons of supplies were waiting at the Kerem Shalom crossing for collection by the United Nations and other international organizations, calling on them to deliver the aid directly to Gazans. “Israel is ensuring civilians can keep out of harm’s way, enabling access to food, shelter and medicine,” said Defrin.

According to the IDF, more than 550,000 civilians have so far evacuated south from Gaza City, while the 162nd, 98th and 36th divisions have begun operating in Hamas strongholds. “As the Jewish New Year arrives, forty-eight hostages remain in the grip of Hamas,” continued Defrin. “Their captivity is an unfinished chapter of this war—and we will not close it until they are home. We have no other choice.”

The campaign has also sought to reassure civilians in southern Gaza, with authorities coordinating humanitarian corridors and the expansion of support facilities. Aid groups have warned of continued needs for food, water, clothing and medical supplies as displacement remains widespread and the fighting continues in and around Gaza City. The UN and other international organizations have been urged to streamline delivery through approved crossing points and to monitor safety conditions for aid workers and civilians alike.

The broader context remains grave: diplomats and aid officials emphasize the urgent need for a sustainable ceasefire that allows for humanitarian aid and the orderly evacuation of civilians, while Israel insists that its security concerns require persistent pressure on Hamas’s command and control. As weeks of fighting extend into a new stage, the focus for authorities is on protecting civilians, locating hostages, and curbing Hamas’s ability to wage the conflict from urban centers.

As the Jewish New Year approaches, Defrin underscored the aim of completing the mission of rescuing hostages and dismantling militant networks, saying: “Their captivity is an unfinished chapter of this war—and we will not close it until they are home. We have no other choice.”