Israel Launches Offensive to Occupy Gaza City: What is Known So Far
07:31 16.09.2025 (Updated: 08:40 16.09.2025)
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ISRAEL LAUNCHES OFFENSIVE TO OCCUPY GAZA CITY: What is known so far
🟠The Israeli military launched its ground offensive on Monday to occupy Gaza City (Axios, citing unnamed Israeli officials).
🟠The offensive came after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem and backed the operation (Axios).
🟠The start of the operation has been confirmed (Israeli and Palestinian media).
🟠The entry of Israeli tanks followed Gazan reports of heavy aerial assaults and artillery fire on the city and its outskirts on Monday evening (The Jerusalem Post).
🟠The IDF has been gradually expanding airstrikes in and around the city in recent days, flattening high-rise buildings in Gaza City on Friday that it claims are used by Hamas for military purposes (The Jerusalem Post).
🟠The Israeli army, which has been urging everyone in Gaza City to evacuate, says some 300,000 Palestinians have fled Gaza City in recent weeks, but around 700,000 remain.
🟠“Gaza is burning… We will not relent, and we will not go back—until the completion of the mission,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz wrote on X on Tuesday morning.
🟠PM Netanyahu pushed the invasion despite opposition from top security chiefs, including IDF Chief Eyal Zamir, who stayed on hoping to soften the blow for hostages, troops, and civilians (The Jerusalem Post).
Reactions so far
Families of captives held in Gaza have launched protests outside Netanyahu’s official residence (Israeli media).
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum blasted the move to escalate fighting in Gaza, warning, "After 710 nights in captivity, this could be the hostages’ last. Netanyahu bears personal responsibility for their fate—and for recovering the dead with dignity."
Trump alleged on his social media that Hamas is moving hostages above ground “to use them as human shields against Israel’s ground offensive.”
Footage from social media.
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🟠The Israeli military launched its ground offensive on Monday to occupy Gaza City (Axios, citing unnamed Israeli officials).
🟠The offensive came after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem and backed the operation (Axios).
🟠The start of the operation has been confirmed (Israeli and Palestinian media).
🟠The entry of Israeli tanks followed Gazan reports of heavy aerial assaults and artillery fire on the city and its outskirts on Monday evening (The Jerusalem Post).
🟠The IDF has been gradually expanding airstrikes in and around the city in recent days, flattening high-rise buildings in Gaza City on Friday that it claims are used by Hamas for military purposes (The Jerusalem Post).
🟠The Israeli army, which has been urging everyone in Gaza City to evacuate, says some 300,000 Palestinians have fled Gaza City in recent weeks, but around 700,000 remain.
🟠“Gaza is burning… We will not relent, and we will not go back—until the completion of the mission,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz wrote on X on Tuesday morning.
🟠PM Netanyahu pushed the invasion despite opposition from top security chiefs, including IDF Chief Eyal Zamir, who stayed on hoping to soften the blow for hostages, troops, and civilians (The Jerusalem Post).
Reactions so far
Families of captives held in Gaza have launched protests outside Netanyahu’s official residence (Israeli media).
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum blasted the move to escalate fighting in Gaza, warning, "After 710 nights in captivity, this could be the hostages’ last. Netanyahu bears personal responsibility for their fate—and for recovering the dead with dignity."
Trump alleged on his social media that Hamas is moving hostages above ground “to use them as human shields against Israel’s ground offensive.”
Footage from social media.
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
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