2025 Gaza City offensive
On 20 August 2025, during the Gaza war, Israel announced it had formally begun the "first stages" of a military offensive aiming to seize control of Gaza City from Hamas, referred to in plans as Operation Gideon's Chariots II or Operation Gideon's Chariots B. These early stages were superseded by an expanded main offensive that began on 15 September. Israel framed the offensive as a continuation or a second part of Operation Gideon's Chariots, which lasted from 16 May to 4 August 2025.
Hamas announced a counteroffensive titled Operation Moses' Staff in response to the Israeli operations. It also reportedly transferred Israeli hostages to combat zones in Gaza City, where they were intended to be used as human shields.
Experts said that the offensive would exacerbate the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, with the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification having confirmed a famine in Gaza City on 22 August. Israel also warned that unless Hamas yielded to its terms, the city could be destroyed. By 30 September, around 1,250 buildings were reported to have been destroyed in the city, with several residential areas having been destroyed by Israeli bombings.
On 4 October 2025, following a positive response by Hamas to a peace plan and a call by American president Donald Trump for Israel to cease its military advances in the Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Forces has halted on orders of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Following the implementation of the peace plan's ceasefire on 10 October, Israeli forces withdrew from parts of Gaza City.
Prelude
Background
The last large scale Israeli operation in Gaza City was a siege that lasted from November 2023 to January 2025. In April 2025, Israel began an offensive into Shuja'iyya, a neighborhood in the city's east. By August 2025, Gaza City was one of only three major population centers still under Palestinian control.Preparations
On 4 August 2025, reports emerged that Netanyahu was to lay out a plan to his war cabinet the next day to expand Israeli military occupation across the entire Gaza Strip, including areas where hostages were being held. According to official close to the President, the goal of the operation was to secure a complete surrender from Hamas and the release of all hostages. A three-hour preliminary meeting with Defense Minister Israel Katz, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, and IDF operations director and chief of staff Itzik Cohen and Eyal Zamir respectively, took place on 5 August, during which Zamir layed out several options regarding the war in Gaza. Zamir was opposed to Netanyahu's insistence on a full-scale occupation, warning that it would leave the IDF as well as the hostages vulnerable. The full cabinet meeting to decide the course of action was postponed until 7 August.Netanyahu met opposition leader Yair Lapid on 6 August to discuss the occupation plan. Lapid reportedly told him that "occupying Gaza is a very bad idea" and would likely lead to the deaths of the hostages. Netanyahu further elaborated on his plan during a Fox News interview on 7 August, claiming that Israel was intent on capturing the Strip but that it would not annex or govern it, instead handing it over to an administration from other Arab states. Later in the day, the cabinet convened at 6:00 p.m. local time, in a meeting which lasted 10 hours and stretched into 8 August in Israel.
On 8 August 2025, Israel's security cabinet approved a plan to take over Gaza City.
Ahead of the offensive, Israel announced plans to relocate Palestinian civilians in Gaza City to the southern Gaza Strip, with the deadline for evacuation set for 7 October 2025, and intensified bombardments on the Gaza City neighborhoods of Zeitoun, Sabra, Rimal, and Tuffah.
On 18 August, the IDF advanced into Sabra, and laid siege to a school and a United Nations clinic.
On 20 August, Israeli defense minister Israel Katz approved the plans for the takeover of Gaza City. The IDF announced it would be calling up 60,000 reservists for the offensive.
Offensive
20 August
IDF spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin stated that Israel had "begun the preliminary operations and the first stages of the attack on Gaza City" and that the IDF was presently holding positions on the city's outskirts. Furthermore, an Israeli military official stated that the IDF would seek to breach areas of Gaza City where they had not previously operated in.21 August
Israel struck targets throughout Gaza City, while residents reported that the Sabra and Shuja'iyya neighborhoods were being shelled. The IDF reported they were operating in Zeitoun, the city's southernmost neighborhood, and in Jabalia, north of the city.22 August
Hamas's Al-Qassam Brigades attacked and wounded an IDF soldier in Zeitoun. Meanwhile, Israeli forces reached the central parts of Sabra.24 August
Israeli tanks advanced into the Saftawy neighborhood of Jabalia to take up positions adjacent to Jalaa Street, which separates western and eastern Gaza City.27 August
The Al-Quds Brigades of Palestinian Islamic Jihad reported that they destroyed an Israeli military vehicle in Sabra with an explosive.29 August
In Zeitoun, seven IDF soldiers were wounded by an explosive device. The neighborhood was also the site of a "major security incident", with speculation that some IDF soldiers might have been captured by the Al-Qassam Brigades. Militants also carried out an ambush in Sabra.30 August
The IDF reportedly withdrew from Zeitoun as a result of the previous clashes in the neighborhood. The IDF's Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee said that reports of the supposed kidnapping of missing Israeli soldiers were false. Following "intensive search efforts", the soldiers were located and recovered alive.The Shin Bet carried out a drone strike in Gaza City that targeted the Al-Qassam Brigades spokesman Abu Obaida. Israel says he was killed, but Hamas has not commented on the claim or confirmed the assassination.
1 September
Residents of Sheikh Radwan said Israeli forces sent old armored vehicles into the eastern parts of their neighborhood and then blew them up remotely, destroying several homes.3 September
Hamas announced the start of a counteroffensive in Gaza City titled "Operation Moses' Staff".4 September
The IDF declared control over 40% of Gaza City.5 September
The IDF began flattening multiple high-rise buildings in Gaza City, saying they were being used by Hamas for military purposes.Israeli military vehicles west of the Jabalia refugee camp were struck by pre-laid explosives set by Al-Qassam Brigades militants.
8 September
Al-Qassam Brigades militants attacked an IDF outpost between Jabalia and Sheikh Radwan, using an explosive device to kill four soldiers inside a tank; at least one militant was killed by return fire.9 September
Israel ordered the entire population of Gaza City to evacuate to the al-Mawasi area.13 September
The Al-Quds Brigades said its militants destroyed an Israeli tank with an explosive device in Sheikh Radwan, and repelled an infiltration attempt by Israeli special forces south of Gaza City.14 September
The IDF stated it completed preparations for the next phase of the offensive.15 September
The IDF launched the main offensive to occupy Gaza City.16 September
The Aybaki Mosque was hit from an Israeli aircraft and destroyed together with at least 16 of the city’s residential buildings.17 September
Israeli forces advanced in Sheikh Radwan, Tel al-Hawa, and Shuja'iyya.19 September
The National Resistance Brigades of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine reported the capture of two Israeli drones that were flying above Sheikh Radwan and Tuffah.It was reported that the IDF paused some underground operations, suspecting that hostages may be held in tunnels under Gaza City and military actions may endanger their lives.
22 September
The Gaza Health Ministry said two Gaza City hospitals, the Al-Rantissi Children's Hospital and the Eye Hospital, have been taken out of service as a result of Israeli attacks.23 September
The IDF reportedly completed an encirclement of Gaza City, fully occupying Sheikh Radwan, Sabra, Tel al-Hawa, and the coastline.24 September
The IDF published aerial footage of gunfire coming from a building, saying it shows Al-Qassam Brigades militants firing from inside the Al-Shifa Hospital. Hamas denied the report.26 September
The IDF said troops in Gaza City foiled an attempted suicide bombing against them by calling in an airstrike on the suspect.27 September
The IDF reportedly achieved operational control over more than half of Gaza City.Israeli airstrikes and shelling targeted homes in Gaza City belonging to the Dogmush and Bakar clans. These appear to have been retaliatory attacks as a result of the clans rejecting earlier Shin Bet proposals to collaborate with Israel and receive governance over parts of Gaza.