What's happened
As of late September 2025, Israel has launched a major ground and air offensive in Gaza City targeting Hamas, ordering nearly one million residents to evacuate south. Despite a temporary evacuation corridor opening, many Palestinians remain due to fears of safety, lack of resources, and overcrowded southern shelters. The conflict has caused thousands of deaths, widespread destruction, and a worsening humanitarian crisis.
What's behind the headline?
Strategic Military Objectives
Israel's offensive aims to dismantle Hamas's remaining forces in Gaza City, seen as the group's last urban stronghold. The IDF's multi-division ground assault, supported by airstrikes, targets Hamas infrastructure, leadership, and tunnels. The operation is expected to take months, with an estimated 100,000 civilians remaining in the city.
Humanitarian and Civilian Impact
The mass evacuation order has triggered a complex humanitarian crisis. Many Palestinians resist leaving due to fears of permanent displacement, lack of shelter, and insufficient resources in southern Gaza. The overcrowding of displacement sites and high costs for transportation and shelter exacerbate civilian suffering.
Political and Diplomatic Dimensions
Israel's recent strikes on Hamas leaders in Doha have strained ceasefire negotiations, reducing prospects for a diplomatic resolution. The UN Commission of Inquiry's genocide accusation against Israel further complicates international responses, with Israel rejecting the claims.
Information Warfare and Narrative Control
Both sides contest narratives: Israel accuses Hamas of using civilian infrastructure like Shifa Hospital for military purposes, while Hamas denies these claims. Media restrictions and access difficulties in Gaza limit independent verification, influencing global perceptions.
Forecast and Consequences
The offensive will likely continue intensifying, with significant civilian displacement and casualties. The humanitarian crisis will deepen unless international aid access improves. Political tensions remain high, with ceasefire prospects slim, prolonging conflict and instability in the region.
What the papers say
The Times of Israel reports on the IDF's ground offensive and the wounding of a Givati Brigade soldier, highlighting Israel's claim that Hamas uses civilian sites like Shifa Hospital for military operations. The article includes personal accounts of displacement and civilian casualties, emphasizing the scale of the evacuation and ongoing fighting. South China Morning Post and The New Arab focus on the reluctance of many Gazans to evacuate due to fears of safety and lack of resources, with detailed descriptions of the humanitarian crisis and the challenges of displacement. They also note the drone attack on a children's hospital and the stalled ceasefire talks following Israel's strikes on Hamas leaders in Doha. The NY Post echoes these points, emphasizing the military's efforts to clear Gaza City and the expected duration of the operation, while quoting aid workers on the impact of bombings on vulnerable populations. SBS provides a broader context of the military campaign, international reactions including condemnation from Qatar and China, and the UN's genocide accusation against Israel, which Israel rejects. The Independent and Arab News offer detailed accounts of civilian casualties, the destruction of Gaza City, and the difficulties faced by displaced families, including the high costs of relocation and overcrowding in southern Gaza. Together, these sources present a multifaceted view of the conflict, balancing military developments, humanitarian concerns, and political ramifications.
How we got here
The conflict escalated after Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, killing over 1,200 and taking hostages. Israel responded with sustained military operations in Gaza, aiming to dismantle Hamas. Gaza City, home to about one million Palestinians, has become the focal point of Israel's ground offensive amid mass displacement and humanitarian challenges.
Go deeper
- What is the humanitarian situation for civilians in Gaza City?
- How is Israel justifying its ground offensive in Gaza?
- What are the prospects for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas?
Common question
-
What’s the Latest on the Gaza Conflict and Israel’s Military Actions?
The situation in Gaza has escalated dramatically with Israel launching a major offensive and ordering evacuations. People are asking what’s happening now, why these actions are taking place, and what the humanitarian impact is. Below, we answer the most common questions about the current conflict, regional security, and international responses to help you understand the latest developments.
-
Why is Israel's Gaza City offensive so intense now?
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has escalated dramatically, with Israel launching a major ground and air offensive in Gaza City. This surge in military activity raises questions about the reasons behind the intensified operations, the impact on civilians, and what it means for the broader conflict. Below, we explore the key factors driving this escalation and what it could mean for the future.
More on these topics
-
Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist militant organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
-
The Israel Defense Forces, commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal, are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force, and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has
-
Gaza City, often simply called Gaza, is a city in the Gaza Strip, Palestine, and the capital of the Gaza Governorate. Located on the Mediterranean coast, 76.6 kilometres (47.6 mi) southwest of Jerusalem, it was home to Palestine's only port. With a popula
-
Benjamin Netanyahu is an Israeli politician serving as Prime Minister of Israel since 2009, and previously from 1996 to 1999. Netanyahu is also the Chairman of the Likud – National Liberal Movement.
-
The Gaza Strip, or simply Gaza, is a self-governing Palestinian territory on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, that borders Egypt on the southwest for 11 kilometers and Israel on the east and north along a 51 km border.
-
Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.