On Friday, August 29, 2025, the Israeli military declared Gaza City a “dangerous combat zone,” ending tactical pauses for humanitarian aid distribution as it prepares to seize the city, home to nearly one million Palestinians, after nearly two years of war (Web:1, Web:7, Web:16). The announcement, effective at 10:00 AM (0700 GMT), follows Defence Minister Israel Katz’s approval of the operation, dubbed “Gideon’s Chariots II,” with 60,000 reservists mobilized (Web:4, Web:9, Web:24). The military’s Arabic-language spokesman, Avichay Adraee, warned on August 27 that evacuation was “inevitable,” though no immediate order was issued (Web:1, Web:5, Post:4). AFP reported Palestinians fleeing south with belongings, reflecting fears of mass displacement (Web:0, Web:6).
The move, aimed at preventing Hamas from regrouping after its October 7, 2023, attack that killed 1,219 people, mostly civilians (Web:4, Web:14), has drawn international condemnation. The UN warned of “catastrophic consequences,” citing risks to civilians and hostages, with Gaza’s health ministry reporting 62,966 deaths, mostly civilians, since October 2023 (Web:5, Web:10, Web:15). Gaza’s civil defence agency reported 33 deaths on Friday alone, though AFP could not independently verify these figures due to media restrictions (Web:0). The military claims to support humanitarian efforts alongside operations, but aid agencies, including the Norwegian Refugee Council, report severe access restrictions (Web:16, Web:17). X posts from @IDF (August 28, 2025) detailed operations targeting Hamas infrastructure, while @AJEnglish (August 17, 2025) noted fears of forced displacement of over one million people (Post:2, Post:5). The operation risks deepening Gaza’s famine and humanitarian crisis, with 90% of the territory under Israeli control or evacuation orders (Web:4, Web:21).
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