Israel is bracing for what could be its most significant military operation in Gaza since the war began nearly two years ago. Reports from multiple outlets, including Times of Israel and the Associated Press, confirm that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are preparing a full-scale takeover of Gaza City, expected to launch in mid-September 2025. This move comes after the military called up an additional 60,000 reservists and extended the service of 20,000 more, as part of the next phase of their campaign, known as "Operation Gideon's Chariot."
According to Channel 12, as cited by Times of Israel, the IDF will soon order the evacuation of approximately one million Palestinians currently residing in Gaza City. The evacuation is set to begin as early as Sunday, August 24, 2025, and is intended to clear civilians from the area before the military surge. This requirement for civilian evacuation is a key demand from the Israeli military, which insists on removing non-combatants and securing international legitimacy before launching the offensive.
Defense Minister Israel Katz did not mince words about the operation's intent, declaring on X, "Soon, the gates of hell will open upon the heads of Hamas’s murderers and rapists in Gaza – until they agree to Israel’s conditions for ending the war, primarily the release of all hostages and their disarmament." The urgency is echoed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials, who want to fast-track the offensive due to the increasingly dire conditions faced by the hostages still held in Gaza.
The roots of the conflict stretch back to October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a deadly attack on Israel, killing some 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and abducting 251 others. Most of the hostages have since been released through various agreements, but Israel believes about 50 remain in Gaza, with roughly 20 thought to be alive. Netanyahu has repeatedly stated that no deal to end the war will be accepted unless all remaining hostages are freed and Hamas is completely defeated.
The coming operation is expected to be both extensive and prolonged. According to an Israeli military official who spoke to the Associated Press, the IDF will be operating in parts of Gaza City where they have not yet conducted missions, focusing on areas where Hamas is believed to be regrouping and launching new attacks. The operation is projected to last between four to six months, with Israeli troops already preparing the ground in the Zeitoun and Jabaliya neighborhoods.
Gaza City is considered Hamas' main military and governing stronghold. The IDF aims to dismantle the group’s vast underground tunnel network and eliminate any remaining leadership. While much of Hamas' senior leadership has been killed, Israeli officials acknowledge that parts of the group are actively regrouping and continuing to fire rockets into Israel.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is already dire, and human rights organizations warn that the impending operation could worsen the crisis. Most of Gaza's residents have been displaced, entire neighborhoods lie in ruins, and the threat of famine looms large. Hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians are currently sheltering in Gaza City, which still holds some of the last remnants of critical infrastructure. AP journalists have observed small groups of residents leaving the city, but many are hesitant to move, citing fears that nowhere in Gaza is truly safe from airstrikes.
The expanded operation has drawn sharp criticism both domestically and internationally. Within Israel, a growing number of reservists are voicing frustration, accusing the government of prolonging the war for political gain and failing to secure the release of the remaining hostages. Families of the hostages, along with former army and intelligence chiefs, have publicly opposed the planned offensive, warning that it could endanger the very people it is meant to save.
Liran Berman, whose brothers Gali and Ziv were abducted by Hamas, spoke at a protest in Tel Aviv on August 23, 2025, saying, "Expanding the fighting only puts them and all the hostages at even greater risk. There is a deal on the table. But deals do not last forever, their windows close fast and hard. This may be the last chance to save lives and to bring the fallen back." According to the Times of Israel, these weekly demonstrations have become a fixture in Tel Aviv, with thousands turning out to demand a negotiated resolution.
Adding to the skepticism, former Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen described the government’s stated goal of completely destroying Hamas while simultaneously bringing home all hostages as "a fantasy." He explained, "If anyone imagines that we can reach every terrorist and every pit and every weapon, and in parallel bring our hostages home – I think it is impossible." This sentiment is echoed by many in the security establishment, who question whether the operation can achieve its stated objectives without unacceptable risks.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts continue in parallel to the military buildup. Hamas has reportedly agreed to a partial cease-fire deal, offering to release 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 others in exchange for a 60-day truce. Negotiations for renewed talks are underway, with discussions about holding them outside Doha, Qatar, or in Cairo, Egypt. An Israeli official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that Israel remains in constant contact with mediators in an effort to secure the release of the hostages. However, Netanyahu has made it clear that he will oppose any deal that does not include the "complete defeat of Hamas."
The toll of the conflict has been staggering. Gaza's Health Ministry, part of the Hamas-run government, reports that more than 62,000 people have been killed since Israel launched its offensive 22 months ago. While the ministry does not specify how many of the dead were civilians or combatants, it states that women and children make up around half of the casualties.
As the world watches, the stakes could hardly be higher. The coming weeks may reshape the trajectory of the conflict, for better or worse. With the Israeli government determined to press forward, the fate of both the hostages and the civilians in Gaza City hangs in the balance. Political, military, and humanitarian pressures are converging in a moment that feels both urgent and deeply uncertain. The next chapter in the long and tragic history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is about to unfold—one that, for now, offers few guarantees and no easy answers.
