Summary:
- Israeli forces entered Dir al-Balah in central Gaza for the first time since the war began nearly two years ago.
- The operation targeted a Hamas stronghold, prompting massive evacuation orders for civilians.
- Israel launched air and ground strikes on over 90 sites across Gaza, raising fears of further casualties and displacement.
- About 75% of Gaza is now considered under Israeli military control.
- Israel and Syria agreed to a limited ceasefire following a week of deadly hostilities.
- Talks in Doha aimed at securing a broader ceasefire and resolving hostage issues remain in deadlock.
In a stark escalation of the ongoing conflict, Israeli ground forces entered central Gaza‘s Dir al-Balah over the weekend, marking the first incursion into the densely populated area since the war began nearly two years ago. The operation coincided with a newly brokered ceasefire between Israel and Syria, following a surge in cross-border violence that left close to 1,000 people dead in just one week, according to monitoring groups.
Israeli military officials described the movement into Dir al-Balah as a strategic push into what they called one of Hamas‘s remaining strongholds. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued emergency evacuation orders early Saturday, instructing tens of thousands of residents to head southwest to the Muwasi area along Gaza’s coast, which Israel has designated a humanitarian zone. “The IDF is operating in the heart of terrorist infrastructure,” said a spokesperson for the Israeli military, stating that the area had become “a center for command and rocket launching activity.”
The central Gaza region, home to approximately 350,000 people, had previously remained largely untouched by Israeli ground operations, though airstrikes had regularly targeted the enclave. Over the past 48 hours, Israeli forces reported air and ground strikes on more than 90 sites said to include tunnel shafts, weapons storage facilities, and what the military described as “command nests” used by Hamas. The intensity of the bombardments has sparked fears of further civilian casualties and mass displacement.
By the military’s own estimates, operations across the enclave have now brought approximately 75% of the territory under Israeli control. However, humanitarian groups report deteriorating conditions for civilians, many of whom are struggling to find food, shelter, and medical assistance. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has highlighted growing obstacles to distributing aid in Gaza, citing restricted access and limited transport feasibility. According to an UNRWA update from July 16, at least 58,573 Palestinians have been killed since the outbreak of hostilities, though the figure does not reflect casualties from the most recent offensive.
The escalation in Gaza comes as Israel and Syria entered a ceasefire agreement late Friday, following a tense week of hostilities centered around the Golan Heights and Damascus. According to statements from Israeli officials, military operations in Syria were triggered by the circulation of footage purporting to show the execution of Syrian Jews by armed groups. Israeli airstrikes subsequently targeted military infrastructure near Suwayda, prompting international concern about a widening regional conflict.
Syrian and Israeli forces have since stood down under terms of a limited truce. “What we aim for is stability and the protection of all communities along the frontier,” an Israeli official said on condition of anonymity, noting that Israeli troops remain on alert in the event of renewed attacks. The border is being closely monitored to prevent unauthorized incursions and to facilitate the return of several Israeli citizens who had reportedly crossed into Syrian territory last week.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts in Doha aimed at securing a broader ceasefire agreement and negotiating the release of hostages continue to stall. Negotiators, including representatives from Qatar and Egypt, have made little headway despite months of intermittent talks. The deadlock has drawn criticism from some humanitarian agencies, who warn that without a breakthrough, the crisis in Gaza could deepen further.
Background:
Here is how this event developed over time:
- July 16, 2025: Palestinian health authorities report a death toll of at least 58,573 in Gaza since the beginning of the conflict.
- By July 18, 2025: Israeli forces gain control of approximately 75% of Gaza and conduct 90 airstrikes over the weekend targeting Hamas infrastructure.
- July 18, 2025: Israel initiates its first ground operation in Dir al-Balah, central Gaza, declaring it a “combat zone” and issuing mass evacuation orders toward the coastal area of Muwasi.
- July 19, 2025: A ceasefire is brokered between Israel and Syria following a week of cross-border violence triggered by videos of executions of Syrian Jews, with an estimated 940 fatalities.
- July 20, 2025: Humanitarian conditions in Gaza deteriorate further amid critical aid shortages and increasing civilian displacement linked to the ground incursion.
- July 20, 2025: Hostage negotiations in Doha between Israel and Hamas stall with no progress reported.
- July 20, 2025: Israel delivers medical aid to Syria’s Sweida province in coordination with U.S. and Syrian transitional authorities, underscoring regional humanitarian complexity.