In a significant escalation of the Gaza conflict, Israeli tanks and ground forces reportedly pushed into Gaza City overnight amid a series of intense airstrikes that were also reported in the central part of the Strip. As the IDF's ground operation commenced, large numbers of Gazan civilians were seen leaving the city and moving south toward a designated humanitarian zone. According to two Israeli officials speaking to CNN, Israel has begun its new offensive to capture Gaza City, known as Operation Gideon's Chariots II, intensifying its military campaign despite facing global criticism and resistance from families of hostages held by Hamas. Israel has yet to confirm that the operation is underway.
Security sources said on Tuesday morning that Hamas was using all means necessary to prevent the Gazan population from moving south. Among other tactics, the terrorist organization is distributing fake pamphlets in the name of the IDF to mislead the public.
An Israeli army flare drifts over buildings destroyed during the Israeli ground and air operations in the northern Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025 (AP/Leo Correa)Defense Minister Israel Katz stated on Tuesday morning, "'Gaza is on fire.' The IDF is striking with a fist of steel at the terrorist infrastructure, and IDF soldiers are fighting heroically to create the conditions for the release of the hostages and the defeat of Hamas. We will not relent and we will not turn back – until the mission is complete."
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is visiting Israel, said, "We now have a very narrow window of opportunity in which a deal can happen." Regarding the new security agreement with Qatar, the secretary of state said, "It is on the verge of being finalized."
Palestinian media reported overnight on a series of significant IDF strikes in the northwest of Gaza City. According to the reports, the sounds of helicopter gunfire and artillery shelling were heard. Simultaneously, a series of airstrikes were also reported in the Nuseirat camp in the central Strip, and that a flight of Palestinians had begun following the attacks. The movement of tanks in the area was also reported.
On the northern front, pro-Iranian channels reported overnight that Israel had attacked in the Damascus area. As of now, there has been no comment from official media outlets in Syria.
Following the strikes in Gaza, residents in central Israel reported hearing powerful explosions during the night. In Netivot, house windows were shattered by the blast wave.
#BREAKING Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Gaza was "on fire" Tuesday, warning his country "will not relent" after witnesses told AFP of massive strikes in the war-ravaged Palestinian territory pic.twitter.com/8hsIcpwwuq
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) September 16, 2025
Nir Vaknin, a resident of Sderot, spoke of tremendous explosions heard as a result of the IDF's activity. "The whole house shook from the force of the explosions. On the one hand, we are happy about the start of the conquest of Gaza City, but on the other hand, we are anxious for the fate of the soldiers and of course the hostages – whose lives are currently on the line. I fully hope that Hamas does not execute them when they hear the tanks approaching," Vaknin said.
