The Israeli Military Begins Preliminary Actions in Gaza: Introduction
The situation in the Middle East has entered a new and volatile phase. The Israeli military has officially announced that it has begun the “preliminary actions” of a planned ground offensive aimed at capturing and occupying the entire Gaza City.
According to military briefings, Israeli forces have already taken strategic positions on the outskirts of Gaza City and are operating in the Zeitoun and Jabalia areas. These moves are part of a broader, long-planned campaign designed to dismantle Hamas’s political and military strongholds within the city.
What makes this announcement significant is not just the escalation itself, but the scale of preparations underway. Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, has approved the mobilization of 60,000 reservists starting early September. This decision is intended to free up active-duty forces for the massive offensive, indicating that a full-scale ground invasion could be imminent.
Gaza Braces for a Humanitarian Crisis
The announcement has sent shockwaves across Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of civilians are now expected to be ordered to evacuate from Gaza City and head south toward designated shelters.
The looming ground offensive threatens to worsen what aid organizations are already calling an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe. For months, Gaza, which is home to 2.1 million Palestinians, has been subjected to constant shelling, food shortages, and frequent displacements.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned that further escalation could “worsen an already catastrophic situation” for civilians who are running out of safe zones. Essential supplies—such as clean water, medical care, hygiene items, and shelter—are already scarce. Any intensification of operations, experts say, could trigger an irreversible humanitarian collapse.
Inside the Israeli Strategy
Military analysts suggest that Israel’s aim is not just to reclaim land but to sever Hamas’s operational capabilities entirely. Gaza City, long considered the political and military nerve center of Hamas, hosts a dense network of underground tunnels, weapon storage sites, and command posts.
Brigadier General Effie Defrin, spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), has stated that Hamas is already “battered and bruised” after nearly two years of conflict but insists that Israel intends to “deepen the damage”.
The preliminary actions reportedly involve:
- Securing key entry points around Gaza City.
- Identifying and dismantling underground tunnel systems.
- Neutralizing Hamas’s logistical and communication hubs.
- Warning civilians to evacuate before strikes intensify.
Two Israeli brigades are already conducting operations in Zeitoun, where an underground tunnel packed with weapons has been discovered, while a third brigade is active in Jabalia.
Mounting Civilian Toll
While Israel insists that measures are being taken to minimize civilian harm, the reality on the ground tells a different story. Reports indicate that at least 25 people were killed in a recent wave of airstrikes, including three children and their parents when their home in the Badr area of Shati refugee camp was destroyed.
The Gaza Health Ministry estimates that since the conflict erupted on October 7, 2023, over 62,000 people have been killed, with women and children comprising the majority of casualties. More than 150,000 people have been injured, and entire neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble.
Hostages at the Heart of the Crisis
The situation is further complicated by the presence of 50 hostages still believed to be held by Hamas inside Gaza. Israeli officials have stated that around 20 of them are thought to be alive, while families of the captives fear that a ground offensive could put their lives at even greater risk.
Diplomatic efforts to resolve the hostage situation are ongoing. Qatar and Egypt have proposed a 60-day ceasefire in exchange for the release of roughly half of the hostages, but while Hamas has agreed, Israel has not yet issued an official response. Israel’s leadership, under pressure from domestic politics, insists on a comprehensive deal that secures the release of all captives.
Global Reactions and Warnings
The planned offensive has sparked international condemnation. Many of Israel’s allies have urged restraint, fearing that a full-scale invasion could ignite a wider regional conflict.
Such measures might “lead to disaster for both peoples” and send the entire area into a never-ending cycle of conflict, French President Emmanuel Macron cautioned. Humanitarian organizations echo this concern, stressing that any escalation risks not only mass civilian casualties but also the potential collapse of already fragile aid operations.
What Comes Next
The region is at a perilous juncture as the Israeli force continues to impose its will on the fringes of Gaza City. The coming weeks could determine whether:
- A full-scale ground offensive unfolds, potentially reshaping the entire conflict.
- Diplomatic channels succeed in securing a ceasefire and hostage release deal.
- Or the situation spirals into even deeper humanitarian and geopolitical crisis.
For now, one thing is clear: the Israeli military’s preliminary actions are not isolated maneuvers. They mark the beginning of a much larger and more decisive campaign—one whose consequences will ripple far beyond Gaza’s borders.
