Before preparations for the offensive began, about a million Palestinians lived in the city of Gaza. Last week, the Israel Defense Forces ordered Palestinians in all areas of the city to evacuate immediately before the offensive began. Civilians were instructed to head to a designated humanitarian zone in the south of the Gaza Strip. According to observers, more than 350,000 residents of Gaza have left the city, but more than 650,000 remain.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the invasion of the city of Gaza would deal Hamas an even heavier blow than the severe defeats the terrorist group has suffered over the past two years.
As reported by The Jerusalem Post, the operation in Gaza is drawing criticism and condemnation worldwide, as well as within military circles in the country, where most security officials, including the Chief of General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, oppose this operation. However, Zamir refused to resign after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the invasion, apparently believing he could mitigate the impact and its consequences for Israeli hostages, Israeli soldiers, and Palestinian civilians.
In his post on Truth Social, U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledged the danger faced by the hostages. «I just read the news that HAMAS has moved hostages to the surface to use them as human shields against Israel's ground operation. I hope HAMAS leaders understand what they are getting into if they take such a step. This is a brutal crime against humanity, the likes of which few have seen before. Do not allow this, or ALL „BETS“ WILL BE OFF. IMMEDIATELY RELEASE ALL HOSTAGES!»
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, in a statement released late Monday evening, sharply criticized the decision to intensify military actions in the city of Gaza. «After 710 nights spent in captivity by terrorists, tonight could be the last for the hostages who are barely surviving, and our last opportunity to find and retrieve the bodies of the deceased for a dignified burial, — the statement reads. — Prime Minister Netanyahu bears personal responsibility for the fate of the hostages. The people of Israel will not forgive the sacrifice of the hostages and soldiers. Everything is already predetermined».
Photo: Tsafrir Abayov