Israel has launched a massive ground assault on Gaza City with 130,000 reservists, defying international genocide accusations and diplomatic pressure, while Hamas militants remain entrenched in tunnel networks.
Story Highlights
- Operation “Gideon’s Chariots II” deployed five IDF divisions targeting Hamas’s last major stronghold.
- Netanyahu postponed his corruption trial to oversee the offensive despite UN genocide allegations.
- Germany suspended arms exports, and Norway is reconsidering investments as international isolation grows.
- Secretary of State Rubio warns diplomatic window closing as regional conflict escalation looms.
Massive Military Operation Targets Hamas Stronghold
Israeli Defense Forces launched Operation “Gideon’s Chariots II” on September 16, 2025, deploying approximately 130,000 reservists across five divisions into Gaza City. The ground assault represents Israel’s most ambitious attempt to seize complete control over Gaza’s largest urban center, home to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.
Defense Minister Israel Katz declared “Gaza is burning” as Israeli forces began targeting extensive Hamas tunnel networks after weeks of preliminary operations on the city’s periphery.
The operation follows nearly two years of conflict that began with Hamas’s coordinated attacks on October 7, 2023.
Israeli forces have systematically advanced through Gaza, eliminating Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar in May 2025 and establishing control over most territories except Gaza City. The current offensive aims to eliminate Hamas’s final major stronghold and secure long-term Israeli security interests in the region.
International Condemnation Mounts Despite Israeli Determination
UN experts commissioned by the Human Rights Council formally accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, joining a growing international chorus of condemnation.
Israel fiercely rejected these allegations as “distorted and false,” while Prime Minister Netanyahu postponed his corruption trial testimony, stating “important things happening” and “We started intensive action in Gaza.” The accusations represent a significant escalation in diplomatic pressure against Israeli military operations.
Germany suspended arms export approvals to Israel, while Norway announced reconsideration of sovereign wealth fund investments in response to the Gaza City occupation plan.
These sanctions demonstrate growing international isolation despite Israel’s claims of legitimate self-defense operations. Arab and Muslim nations denounced Israeli actions at recent summits, with Egypt referring to Israel as the “enemy” for the first time in years, signaling deteriorating regional relationships.
Diplomatic Window Rapidly Closing
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized urgent diplomatic solutions, warning “We have a very short window of time in which a deal can happen” and “time, unfortunately, is running out.”
His statements reflect growing American concern about regional escalation as Israeli forces commit to what military sources suggest could be several months of intensive urban warfare. The timing coincides with broader Middle Eastern tensions threatening to destabilize the Trump administration’s diplomatic initiatives.
The conflict has already resulted in over 52,000 reported deaths, with 50,810 Palestinians and 1,706 Israelis killed as of April 2025. Recent escalations included Hamas militants killing six Israelis in an East Jerusalem bus attack on September 8, followed by Israeli strikes on four high-rise buildings in Gaza City.
The humanitarian crisis threatens hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians facing displacement and potential economic devastation from prolonged urban warfare.
