The men were forced to kneel with their eyes covered and their hands tied. Militants then read them their "sentence." Before being shot, they were laid on the ground to intensify their humiliation.

 

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Footage of the execution, which Israel Hayom has chosen not to publish in full, was widely circulated on Hamas-affiliated Telegram channels.

A large crowd of Gaza residents gathered at the scene, filming the incident on their phones and chanting slogans in support of Hamas' military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades.

After the execution, the terrorists placed a paper on the bodies with the message: "To all mercenaries of the occupation and collaborators – the time has come to cut off your heads."

According to Hamas-linked media outlets, the execution followed accusations that the three men were involved in the arrest of a Hamas terrorist. Hamas claimed its members had ambushed the suspects, detained them, and confiscated their equipment.

A Hamas source said the execution was carried out jointly with Islamic Jihad and the Mujahideen Brigades, two other terrorist groups that operate alongside Hamas in its joint command center.

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Al-Haddad serves as the "head of the military wing" of the terrorist organization. At his side are the two heads of the production and intelligence staffs, Ra'ed Sa'ad and Mohammed Awda.

At the war's outset, al-Haddad was the commander of the Gaza City Brigade. He oversaw six battalions of terrorists (around 6,000) and was part of the inner circle that decided on the October 7 massacre.

With most of Hamas' senior leaders abroad have been eliminated, the center of gravity again shifts to the Gaza Strip. Ezz El-Din al-Haddad has controlled the area since the killing of Mohammed Sinwar. He is now considered the "head of the military wing" of the terrorist organization. At his side are the two heads of the production and intelligence staffs, Ra'ed Sa'ad and Mohammed Awda. He is the one tasked with making the critical decisions regarding the war and the hostage situation.

At the beginning of the war, al-Haddad was the commander of the Gaza City Brigade. He commanded six terrorist battalions (approximately 6,000 fighters) and was part of the decision-making circle for the October 7 massacre.

According to foreign media, al-Haddad has survived a total of six assassination attempts, three of which occurred during the current war. In this connection, it was reported in Britain that an Israeli unit was dispatched to eliminate him at a house where he was hiding, but he was not found there.

At the start of the war, a bounty of $750,000 was placed on al-Haddad's head. The British newspaper The Times reported that according to intelligence, al-Haddad "is constantly changing his location and trusts very few people outside of his inner circle." Palestinian sources claim that two of his sons, who were active terrorists, were killed in the war.

In a January interview with Arab media, al-Haddad addressed a question about whether Iran and Hezbollah knew about the terror offensive on Oct. 7. He stated, "Given the large scale and anticipated consequences of the attack – the brothers in the axis of resistance were updated on the general picture. (But) we kept the timing of the zero hour to the narrowest possible circle to ensure the attack's success."

At least four battalion commanders serving under al-Haddad have been eliminated. Following the elimination of Ahmed Ghandour, the commander of the northern Gaza Strip brigade, the entire region fell under al-Haddad's responsibility. After the heads of the "military wing" – Mohammed Deif, Marwan Issa, and Mohammed Sinwar – were eliminated, thousands of terrorists began operating under his authority.

According to a publication in The Wall Street Journal, a released Israeli hostage encountered al-Haddad five times during his captivity, sometimes sleeping in the same safe house with him.

The first time they met in March 2024, al-Haddad came in and sat on the floor beside two hostages, asking in Hebrew, "How are you?" Subsequently, al-Haddad told them he was in charge of all the hostages in Gaza, took out his smartphone, and scrolled through photos of different hostages, some of whom the since-freed hostage recognized.

In July, satirical leaflets titled "The Reality" were circulated in the Gaza Strip, featuring the "new look" (as seen in the photo above) of Ezz El-Din al-Haddad, the new head of the terror group's military wing. The IDF's Arabic-language spokesman, Avichay Adraee, later confirmed that the image published in the leaflet, distributed by the IDF, was indeed of Ezz El-Din al-Haddad, and that he was located in a tunnel in Khan Younis.

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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.

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IDF forces are at a high level of readiness for the start of a ground maneuver, after roughly ten days of strikes on towers and high-rise buildings. What challenges await the IDF? Why Gaza City? And what still needs to be done that we have not yet done?

Why Gaza City?

The security cabinet decided to seize and exercise operational control in Gaza City. It faced several alternatives presented by the IDF, including capturing the central camps, encircling Gaza City, and of course the option ultimately chosen: capturing and exercising operational control in Gaza City. There are several answers to why the city option was selected.

Gaza City is a symbol, the "capital city" of the Gaza Strip. It hosts institutions and centers of governance that were still functioning and represents a "center of gravity." No less important, Gaza City is where Izz al-Din Haddad is located. Until about a week ago he was not only the commander of the Gaza City Brigade, but also head of the military wing after the elimination of Muhammad Sinwar. Capturing the city as a symbol and defeating the city brigade along with its commander could therefore be key considerations in choosing the option to seize the city.

The challenges in Gaza City

Many challenges await the IDF in Gaza City. The enemy has prepared for a long time, in fact for about a year, since the IDF operated inside the city at the start of the maneuver. Beyond the enemy and combat challenges outlined below, between 600,000 and 800,000 civilians are present in Gaza City. They returned after the IDF withdrew from the city under the failed raid-and-pullback method. Having so many civilians in a combat zone is critical for our ability to employ fire freely, as well as to maneuver, including tank fire and demolishing infrastructure.

Therefore, the first challenge is to move the population for its own protection and to enable the IDF to use fire more freely with fewer constraints. These are strict constraints imposed on our forces throughout the fighting by the IDF Military Advocate General, and adopted by the Chief of Staff. Moving the population is carried out through the use of fire and "bringing down towers," and mainly by making clear to Gaza City residents that Israel is determined to act in the city and that they must move for their own safety. The trend is positive, and if we continue resolutely, most of the city's population will move.

The most significant challenge is, of course, fighting a sizable and ready enemy. In Gaza City there is an order of battle amounting to roughly two Hamas brigades: the Gaza City Brigade and the Northern Gaza Brigade. As our forces maneuvered and fought in Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun, and Jabaliya, most of the terrorists simply fled to Gaza City and linked up with the city brigade under the command of Izz al-Din Haddad.

Such a large number of terrorists, many thousands, employ abundant weaponry that includes many explosives collected from our forces' munitions and from air force duds, anti-tank weapons, and sniper capabilities, together with collection assets from cameras networked on almost every street and through the use of drones. Hamas operates from rubble and from subterranean infrastructure and tunnels organized as a kind of "underground city."

All of this poses a significant combat challenge for our forces, but there should be no doubt: the IDF can and must defeat Hamas.

So how do we do it?

The IDF is preparing for Operation Gideon Chariots B (recommend changing the name, after all, Gideon Chariots A did not exactly succeed, even if someone orders us to say it did) along several tracks. Reserve call-ups and unit mobilization have been completed, some units have replaced regular forces. The IDF is concentrating a force package of about three divisions opposite Gaza City, raising readiness for armored vehicles and munitions, and advancing battle procedures and planning. The level of readiness is high and we are ready for the order: "Move, move, out!"

What else needs to be done?

Even so, there are several points in the IDF plan that have not yet been addressed and that serve as "key points" for the IDF's ability to defeat Hamas more quickly and at a lower cost. Two significant points:

1. Cutting Gaza City from the south by seizing the Netzarim Corridor. The purpose of the cut is to place filters on the routes from the city southward and to control the movement of civilians, to prevent the transfer of hostages and the passage of terrorists. Otherwise we will keep playing tag with thousands of terrorists who will flee to the central camps.

2. Once we have moved the population, even if not all of it, do not allow any aid in, especially water. Hamas has plenty of aid and food, but water is hard to store. Within about two to three weeks of fighting, without the entry of water, Hamas will come out exhausted and thirsty with hands raised and will surrender. If we do not do this, it will harm our forces' security and wear them down, something we cannot allow. Needless to say, imposing a siege on Hamas fighters is anchored in the laws of armed conflict, and we must exhaust this measure fully.

Military force alone is not enough. A strategy of several parallel efforts is required, but defeating Hamas in Gaza City can help bring about the defeat of the organization as a whole and the faster return of the hostages. There are risks for our forces and for the hostages. I will elaborate on that in a separate article.

Brig. Gen. (res.) Oren Solomon is a former senior official in the Prime Minister's Office and commander of operations in the IDF Gaza Division. 

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"To everyone living or staying in Gaza City and its neighborhoods, from the Old City and Tuffah in the east to the sea in the west. The IDF is resolute in defeating Hamas and will operate in Gaza City with overwhelming force, as it has done throughout the Strip. For your safety, evacuate immediately via Al-Rashid road to the humanitarian zone in Al-Mawasi. Remaining in the city is extremely dangerous."

The notice also included a phone number for residents to report "Hamas roadblocks or attempts to stop evacuation."

This evacuation announcement will be accompanied by major aerial operations in the coming hours or days to further push civilians to leave.

A security official told Israel Hayom that about 100,000 people have evacuated Gaza City so far, and the hope is that the numbers will now rise. Still, estimates hold that between 100,000 and 300,000 people will remain in Gaza City as human shields for Hamas.

The official further said that accepting President Donald Trump's proposal is Hamas' only way to avoid a ground invasion of Gaza City. If the group refuses, Israel is committed to pursuing the military campaign in the city to its conclusion.

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The IDF document essentially concedes that the method selected for Operation Gideon's Chariots II runs contrary to operational logic and established recommendations from the past, and that the failure to execute these steps could preclude a tangible achievement in the campaign, even in the forthcoming planned stage.

In contrast to prevailing assertions within the IDF that defeating a guerrilla force is impossible, the documents contend that it can be achieved through necessary measures that have not yet been undertaken. The text states, among other things, "One must act with high intensity using diverse means, encircle an area with a maneuver, and force the enemy into close-quarters combat. Demonstrate initiative and aggressiveness, do not permit hit-and-run attacks. Dissecting the area into cells and isolating them from each other to deny the enemy freedom of movement."

The document, titled "How armies have defeated guerrilla organizations," further states, "Severing the guerrilla organization from the population, combining military force with initiatives to improve the population's lives, controlling the territory, preventing safe havens, and cutting off supply routes to the guerrillas."

In effect, the IDF document itself indicates that the method chosen for the operation is inconsistent with operational logic and known past recommendations, and that failing to implement these measures will, with a high degree of probability, prevent the attainment of any real strategic gain in the campaign.

Senior IDF officials responded to the assertions, saying, "The IDF encourages critical discourse, and in discussions held in the General Staff forum and among the ranks, different opinions arise concerning the operational patterns of action to be employed in the Gaza Strip. Operation Gideon's Chariots met its objectives; during the operation, the IDF completely dismantled terrorist infrastructure where it operated. The operation intensified military pressure on Hamas and resulted in IDF control over three-quarters of the Strip's territory and the elimination of approximately 2,000 terrorists. The commander of the Ground Forces conducted a clarification with Brig. Gen. (res.) Guy Hazut, as the presentation's content and its findings were not authored with authority and did not represent the IDF's official position as is expected from a document distributed to reserve forces."

Col. (res.) Hezi Nehemia, a co-founder of the Reservists Commanders Forum, remarked that "For anyone who doubted whether the 'conception' is still with us, the IDF spokesperson's response arrived and proved the flawed paradigm is here to stay. When Brig. Gen. Guy Hazut commits his conclusions to writing after twenty months leading the IDF's learning division, the IDF summons him for a clarification. In short, why contend with the message when you can silence the messenger. We regret this, but we will persist in loudly voicing the outcry of tens of thousands of officers and soldiers."

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"The Hamas terror spokesman Abu Obeida was eliminated in Gaza, and sent to meet all the eliminated members of the axis of evil from Iran, Gaza, Lebanon, and Yemen at the bottom of hell," Katz wrote in his message, which he published on the social network X. "Congratulations to the IDF and Shin Bet on the perfect execution. Soon, as the campaign against Gaza intensifies, he will meet many more of his partners in crime there – the murderers and rapists of Hamas."

The strike in which Abu Obeida was eliminated was a pinpoint strike on an apartment in the Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City. His family members and commanders in the terror organization confirmed his death. According to reports, at least 7 people were killed and dozens were wounded during the strike.

"Abu Obeida can no longer spread his lies, propaganda, and terror," the IDF said on Sunday on X. "Kahlout was one of the last remaining senior terrorists of Hamas' Military Wing from before Oct. 7, 2023. He led propaganda and psychological terror campaigns, spreading footage of abducted Israeli civilians & soldiers and atrocities of the October 7th Massacre. Additionally, he distributed incitement videos across the Arab world & among the Palestinian public encouraging them to commit similar acts of terrorism, and coordinating messaging across Hamas' military wing."

ELIMINATED: Hudahaifa Kahlout "Abu Obaidah", Head of Hamas' Military Wing Propaganda Apparatus

Kahlout was one of the last remaining senior terrorists of Hamas' Military Wing from before Oct. 7, 2023. He led propaganda and psychological terror campaigns, spreading footage of… https://t.co/5r4w1Wl2Px

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) August 31, 2025

Abu Obeida was regarded until now as one of the most senior figures remaining in the Strip, and certainly the most prominent among them after the senior operatives of Hamas were eliminated throughout the war. His propaganda releases, mainly messages on Telegram during the war, were widespread throughout the Gaza Strip, Palestinian Authority territories, and the entire Arab world, and he was highly significant to public opinion and Hamas's methodology.

The "presenter" of a terrorist organization, who was a central figure in its propaganda, has met his end. Abu Obeida, or Hudhayfah Kahlout by his original name, with the high-pitched voice and red-and-white keffiyeh that hid his face except for his eyes, was one of Hamas's most recognizable symbols.

During demonstrations in Gaza, Judea and Samaria, and Arab nations, Hamas supporters would chant his name and that of Mohammed Deif, the eliminated head of the military wing. His statements to the media, though rife with lies and falsehoods, became televised events. Courtesy of the Qatari channel Al-Jazeera and pro-Iranian media outlets, his words reached millions of Muslims worldwide.

This is genuinely how he became a symbol of the path of terror, "the resistance," as it is termed by our enemies. Conversely, he amassed a significant number of enemies, including within Palestinian society. Many justifiably viewed him as a propaganda mouthpiece for a cult of death-eaters, the very one that inflicted destruction and ruin upon the Gaza Strip.

Abu Obeida served for two decades as the spokesman for the "Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades military wing." He started issuing statements during the terror attacks of the Second Intifada. Based on details he gave the media 20 years ago, he comes from a refugee family that arrived in Gaza after the War of Independence and settled in one of the towns.

He was likely born in the 1980s and was around 40 years old on the eve of the attack. Since 2004, he had delivered announcements concerning the organization's terrorist attacks, mixing them with threats and psychological warfare. For instance, he announced the kidnapping of soldier Gilad Shalit in 2006, and the abduction of the fallen Oron Shaul, of blessed memory, during combat in Operation Protective Edge in 2014, even though Hamas never stated he fell in battle.

Periodically, Abu Obeida also commented on the fate of senior Hamas officials who were targeted or eliminated. In Operation Protective Edge, he announced that Mohammed Deif had survived an assassination attempt. In the current war, he was tasked with announcing utter fabrications to sow demoralization on the Israeli side.

The Telegram channel that bears his name has also frequently touched on the contacts for a hostage exchange. When Hamas sought to apply pressure during the most recent deal, Abu Obeida's channel published a demand to renew the humanitarian protocol, warning the release process would not proceed otherwise.

Meanwhile, Arab sources reported on Sunday that the apartment occupied by Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida in the affluent Rimal neighborhood in western Gaza City had been rented just a few days prior. This is a known bastion for senior Hamas officials that, during the war, endured extensive destruction and absorbed masses of evacuees and beggars.

Despite this, restaurants serving the Strip's wealthy – primarily various merchants who have earned a substantial profit in the past two years – continue to operate there. Following the strike, it was reported that Hamas terrorists sealed off the area and barred people from approaching. In total, eight fatalities were discovered. The Al-Arabiya channel noted his body was identified by relatives.

It is doubtful that Hamas will acknowledge Abu Obeida's death in the near future. On Saturday night, only after roughly three months, the terrorist organization finally provided an update on the elimination of Mohammed Sinwar, the former head of the military wing, and Mohammed Shabana, the organization's Rafah brigade commander.

The senior officials now remaining in Gaza are the head of the wing and former Gaza City brigade commander, Izz al-Din al-Haddad; chiefs of staff Mohammed Awda and Ra'ad Saad; and Tawfiq Abu Naim, who is in charge of internal mechanisms. The members of the "Political Bureau in Gaza" have been almost completely eliminated or exiled.

The death of Abu Obeida is yet another manifestation of the nadir the organization has reached, finding itself without a terrorist army, senior leadership in Gaza, iconic symbols, or smuggling routes.

Nevertheless, a successor will be found to deliver his statements, making his practical importance low. Moreover, the thousands of terrorists who remain in Gaza should not be underestimated, even if they are fragmented and divided into independent "guerrilla units."

While Hamas circles abroad warn against expanding the operation in the city and broadcast an air of fear, their objective is to push for greater international pressure.

Meanwhile, the remnants of Hamas inside Gaza are preparing to attempt attacks against our forces, all while concealed within the civilian population and booby-trapping buildings and pathways with explosive devices. Their stated aim is a war of attrition for as long as possible, hoping international pressure will compel a ceasefire without an agreement to release the hostages.

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In a statement he recorded in advance at the Gaza Division, Netanyahu said, "We're at the decisive stage. I came today to the Gaza Division in order to approve the plans that the IDF presented to me and to the defense minister for taking control of Gaza City and defeating Hamas. In parallel, I have instructed to begin immediate negotiations for the release of all our hostages and the end of the war, on conditions that are acceptable for Israel. Those two things, the defeat of Hamas and the release of all our hostages, go hand in hand."

In Netanyahu's statement, one can find a hint at what is no longer on the table from Israel's side – a partial deal for releasing some of the hostages and a limited ceasefire. While Hamas, through the mediators, signaled this week that it is prepared for the same framework with modifications (whose content has not yet been clarified), Netanyahu is effectively placing on the table a demand to strive for a complete deal and ending the war in a manner that suits Israel's demands and distances himself from Hamas agreements.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Gaza Division:
"We're at the decisive stage. I came today to the Gaza Division in order to approve the plans that the IDF presented to me and to the Defense Minister for taking control of Gaza City and defeating Hamas. pic.twitter.com/07VxSaHfQ1

— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) August 21, 2025

The choice that Netanyahu presents within a short driving distance from Gaza City to Hamas is clear concerning rapid agreements for a comprehensive deal or conquest of Gaza City and from there to the central camps. The war – as officials also made clear last night in Israel – will not halt for the sake of negotiations, moreover – the timeline for conquering the city has been accelerated.

Assessment suggests Hamas terrorists will flee

The negotiations that will resume will take place as stated under fire. Even as of the writing of these lines, senior officials confirm that no delegation will be sent to Doha or Cairo without meaningful progress in contacts being conducted behind the scenes.

Israeli sources said yesterday that there is nothing new in the position that Netanyahu presented according to which the door remains open for negotiations at all times – even when preparations for the operation to conquer Gaza City and evacuate the population from it are being completed. According to them, the one who still does not demonstrate readiness for a deal of any kind on Israeli terms is Hamas, and only the military action itself will apply the required pressure.

Sources who participated in last night's discussion during which war plans were presented to the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet headed by Netanyahu said that "the prime minister is satisfied with the plans that the IDF presented." Among other things, ministers received assessments on the timeline for carrying out preliminary preparations for taking control of the city and evacuating it of population before addressing Hamas' terror infrastructure. This includes an assessment according to which most Hamas terrorists will escape during the population evacuation to the Mawasi area and only a minority will remain to fight against IDF soldiers who will enter to maneuver in the city.

However, sources on the right continue criticizing the Military Advocate General's restrictions on cutting off water to Gaza City during the war and after evacuating the population, in order to deepen damage to the terrorists and protect the soldiers, but Netanyahu did not lead to a change in plans as a result.

"We hit Hamas at home and abroad"

The chief of staff also – who it appears that the attacks against him from within the government have calmed down – sounds ready to carry out the plan that the cabinet decided on and he is expected to bring it down to execution in the coming weeks. On a tour in the Khan Younis area, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said that "we hit Hamas very hard. It was a terror army and today it is a guerrilla organization. We will continue and hit Hamas everywhere, inside and abroad. We will pursue them for as long as necessary and everywhere necessary."

The chief of staff also said, "We issued tens of thousands of reserve call-up orders for forces that will join here. We appreciate the reservists and their families, they are doing holy work. We call them only when needed and when required and we rely on them. I am confident they will report until completing the mission. We are discussing with the political echelon about plans for continuation and creating the best operational achievements on the battlefield to bring before them the maximum options. Our struggle is still long and many challenges await us."

Regarding the Hamas attack that was thwarted the day before yesterday, the chief of staff told the soldiers who eliminated the terrorists, "The attempted attack that was thwarted here is significant, I appreciate you and the way you acted. We need to be prepared at all times and strengthen the pattern of action, alertness and sharpness. It is important to continue learning and drawing lessons. This incident could have ended differently."

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The initial reserve call-up scheduled for September has been moved forward for tens of thousands of soldiers to facilitate the evacuation of civilians from Gaza City before the final assault. Diplomatic and security sources confirm the timeline presented at the last cabinet meeting has been expedited, meaning the military operation will not be delayed as first planned. With Hamas signaling a potential deal, Israel is again at a critical juncture, and Prime Minister Netanyahu is keeping his strategy a closely guarded secret.

Learning from past negotiations with Hamas and after publicly admitting "Hamas deceived us," Prime Minister Netanyahu is now withholding information about developments behind the scenes from even his most senior ministers.

The helplessness felt by the families of the hostages in the face of this secrecy suggests Prime Minister Netanyahu is managing this situation differently than before. A sliver of insight emerged Wednesday evening when a senior official conceded that the radio silence from the prime minister's circle points to "days of sensitive and fateful decisions."

While some Government ministers have been outlining their preferred strategies for the war in media interviews, Thursday's meeting will be the first chance for several of them to formally weigh in on the forthcoming operational plans.

In a move contradicting a promise Prime Minister Netanyahu made to former top security officials last week, Israel Hayom has exclusively learned that the plan Defense Minister Israel Katz and the Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir approved on Tuesday omits a key tactic – cutting off water supplies to combat zones to induce a faster surrender by terrorists and lower the risk to Israeli forces.

When some of these officials tried to ask the Prime Minister's Office if a legal opinion on alternative measures would be presented to ministers, they were dismissed. They were told there was no time to consider other options because of "what is happening behind the scenes."

Ministers in the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet noted Wednesday that if Hamas abandons its demand for an end to the war on terms of an Israeli surrender and agrees to the Witkoff framework which Israel previously accepted, a partial or phased hostage release could be considered. They stressed however that all preparations for the Gaza City campaign must proceed in case Hamas is merely stalling again. They argue that soldiers must be moved to the city's outskirts and placed on high alert.

A security source stated that the IDF anticipates most Hamas terrorists will flee to the Mawasi area during the planned maneuver, leaving only a small contingent to engage in guerrilla warfare with Israeli soldiers. This assessment suggests the conquest of Gaza City will not be as lengthy as the chief of staff had projected. This would allow forces to quickly begin dismantling terror infrastructure and neutralize another key Hamas stronghold en route to the organization's total defeat.

The risk to hostages will undoubtedly rise once the urban maneuver begins. Yet security and political officials maintain that without a viable deal that safeguards Israel's security, there is no other path to securing their release.

Netanyahu currently enjoys unprecedented support from a sitting American president. President Donald Trump sounded more hawkish this week than some members of the Israeli cabinet. "We will only see the return of the remaining hostages when Hamas is confronted and destroyed," Trump reiterated, signaling his desire to see both the hostages returned and the war in the Middle East concluded.

Senior American officials consistently repeat that the final decision rests with Netanyahu himself. The objective however is unambiguous. The return of the hostages and the surrender of Hamas would clear the path for other joint Trump-Netanyahu initiatives like expanding the Abraham Accords and realizing diplomatic goals that offer a new vision for the region. The Gaza front must be resolved before advancing to that next stage, and one can imagine Trump whispering to Netanyahu "it doesn't matter how you do it."

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In the following months, densely populated areas like Rafah and Khan Younis were almost entirely emptied of residents through deliberate efforts, enabling IDF divisions to maneuver more easily while reducing risks to both combatants and civilians. However, this practice has raised moral and legal challenges.

Now, as the anticipated takeover of Gaza City approaches, Southern Command faces its next challenge. In the coming days, one of the largest population relocation operations of the war is expected to begin, as a prelude to the ground incursion into Gaza City. Approximately one million people will be required to evacuate the city and move south beyond the Netzarim Corridor, which will serve as the boundary north of which combat will take place.

A message delivered by artillery

The complex evacuation operation is managed by Southern Command's Population Relocation Unit, whose existence is revealed here for the first time. The unit is responsible for mapping the population, gathering intelligence on it, and coordinating actions to facilitate its movement – distributing leaflets, sending text messages, and, ultimately, firing artillery shells, which send the clearest message to residents that they must evacuate.

"In the current war, the unit was already prepared for micro-level management of the operation," said Brig. Gen. (res.) Erez Weiner, who served during the war as the commander of the operational planning team in Southern Command. "This includes the process of notifications, who issues them, when, and how, as well as monitoring and verifying that there is a response on the other side and that the population is actually moving," Weiner said.

According to UN data, about 82% of Gaza's residents lived before the war in areas the IDF designated as "evacuation zones." Providing aid to these millions of displaced people is an integral part of the population relocation principle. "To convince them to move, you need to use not only a stick but also a carrot," a former military source said.

Until now, Israel has insisted that the "carrot" – humanitarian aid to Gaza – be provided and managed by the UN and international organizations, such as the American GHF foundation. However, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) has been working in recent days to support the humanitarian infrastructure designed to absorb the hundreds of thousands of new evacuees from Gaza. "You cannot relocate people without ensuring that the humanitarian infrastructure – food, water, medical care, sanitation – meets the requirements of international law," a knowledgeable source said.

By late July, COGAT, under the guidance of the cabinet, approved an Emirati initiative to connect a water pipeline from a desalination plant in Egypt to the humanitarian zone in al-Mawasi. This week, Israel also approved, for the first time since the March 2025 ceasefire, the entry of tents and shelter equipment into Gaza. "You can't start moving a population and then say, 'Oops, there aren't enough tents,'" the same source said. "That's why Israel is already preparing the infrastructure for the evacuation."

The full article will appear in the weekend edition.

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