Netanyahu Oversees Gaza City Push, Stresses Civilian Evacuation As IDF Expands Offensive

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, speaking from the IDF command bunker at the Kirya in Tel Aviv, underscored Israel’s determination to protect noncombatants while its forces press into Gaza City. “Our forces are operating in Gaza City with the aim, of course, of achieving the defeat of the enemy, while also working to evacuate the civilian population,” he said in a video released by his office. He added that Israel is “currently making efforts to open additional routes to enable a faster evacuation of the Gazan population, to separate them from the terrorists whom we aim to strike.”

Flanked by Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, Netanyahu also revealed that “just a few minutes ago, our pilots struck the port of Hodeidah in Yemen — the main supply port of the Houthi terror regime.”

At a press briefing, IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said the army would “do its best” to protect hostages while pushing into Hamas strongholds. Responding to questions about Hamas videos showing captives in Gaza City, Defrin noted: “We are aware of the concerns of the hostages’ families, we will do our best to avoid harming the hostages.” Hamas has previously warned it would execute captives if troops neared their locations, intensifying fears among relatives as the operation continues.

From a position near the Gaza border, Defrin accused Hamas of trapping civilians in harm’s way. “Hamas set up in Gaza City the largest human shield in history,” he said. “It exploits the civilian population as a human shield. It prevents them from evacuating from combat zones, while using violence.” He emphasized that the IDF is allowing civilians to leave “for their protection.”

Defrin estimated that over 350,000 Palestinians have moved out of Gaza City toward other parts of the Strip in recent weeks. He explained that “in accordance with international law,” the military has “adapted the humanitarian efforts” for those fleeing the area. “There will be no starvation in Gaza; humanitarian aid will also be delivered to northern Gaza,” he assured.

The spokesman reported that Israeli forces now control “widespread” sections of Gaza City following “intensive IDF activity in recent weeks in the Zeitoun and Sheikh Radwan neighborhoods and Jabalia.” He said these efforts “brought about the operational conditions to deepen the fighting inside Gaza City,” referring to the army’s latest ground maneuver launched overnight.

Speaking outside the White House, US President Donald Trump commented on Israel’s advance, saying he “doesn’t know too much” about the Gaza City offensive. “We’ll have to see,” he told reporters. He then cautioned Hamas against using hostages as shields, warning the group “will have hell to pay” if it does so.

The IDF said Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir visited Gaza City on Tuesday morning to review progress with units engaged in the assault. Addressing officers, Zamir declared: “On your shoulders rests the mission to deepen the strike against Hamas and to defeat the Gaza City Brigade, in order to carry out the moral and most important mission, the return of all the hostages home and the collapse of Hamas’s military and governing capabilities.” He was joined by Southern Command chief Maj. Gen. Yaniv Asor, 98th Division commander Brig. Gen. Guy Levi, and other senior commanders.