Summary:
- Israeli forces have launched a ground offensive in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, marking the first such move since the conflict began in October 2023.
- The July 21 operation, announced by the Israel Defense Forces, uses tanks, armored vehicles, and infantry with air and artillery support to dismantle Hamas infrastructure.
- Evacuation orders have displaced an estimated 50,000 to 80,000 people, with limited safe relocation options available.
- The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has worsened, with rising deaths, inaccessible aid operations, and less than 12% of the territory habitable.
- Ongoing IDF attacks include the killing of Hamas commander Bashar Thabet, while concerns for Israeli hostages grow amid the military campaign.
- Ceasefire talks mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States remain stalled amid continued conflict.
In a marked escalation of military operations in Gaza, Israeli forces have launched a major ground offensive in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, entering the area for the first time since the conflict began in October 2023. The move comes amid intensifying humanitarian concerns, sweeping evacuation orders, and a growing sense of urgency among families of Israeli hostages who fear for the safety of their loved ones.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the operation on July 21, following a day of preparatory airstrikes and an unprecedented shift in operational focus. Tanks, armored vehicles, and infantry units reportedly moved into Deir al-Balah and neighboring areas such as the Bureij refugee camp in the early hours of Monday, supported by aerial surveillance and artillery fire.
Col. Avichay Adraee, spokesperson for the IDF, said the military was “expanding its operations into areas where Hamas continues to operate” and noted that the offensive was designed to dismantle militant infrastructure. Deir al-Balah had remained untouched by ground operations until now, largely due to assessments that Israeli hostages might be held in the area.
As warnings were distributed via SMS, radio broadcasts, and leaflets dropped from aircraft, residents were urged to evacuate southward to the coastal zone of al-Mawasi, designated by Israel as a “humanitarian area.” According to UN estimates, between 50,000 and 80,000 people were affected, including tens of thousands already displaced and living in temporary shelters.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza, already dire, appears to have deteriorated further with this latest military action. On July 20, Gaza’s civil defense reported that 93 Palestinians were killed when Israeli forces opened fire on crowds gathering for aid near Gaza City and Khan Younis. The United Nations World Food Programme confirmed that one of its aid convoys had encountered gunfire.
The Gaza Health Ministry reported an additional 19 deaths on Sunday attributed to starvation, illustrating the scale and immediacy of the crisis. Medical facilities remain overstretched, with less than 12 percent of Gaza now open to habitation following the evacuation of Deir al-Balah.
Parallel to the ground advance, IDF operations have continued in other flashpoints within Gaza. On the same day, Israeli forces struck 75 targets, including alleged tunnel entrances and weapons stockpiles. In a separate airstrike, Hamas commander Bashar Thabet was reportedly killed in the Nuseirat area.
Ceasefire negotiations, meanwhile, remain in limbo. Talks facilitated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States have so far yielded no breakthrough. Hamas has reportedly delayed its response to a proposed 60-day cessation of hostilities in exchange for a partial hostage release.
Background:
Here is how this event developed over time:
- October 2023: The Israel-Gaza war begins, sparking months of military escalation and humanitarian crisis in the region.
- July 20, 2025: Israeli forces issue evacuation orders for Deir al-Balah, instructing tens of thousands of civilians to relocate to al-Mawasi.
- July 20, 2025: Nearly 100 Palestinians are killed after Israeli forces open fire on aid seekers near Gaza City and Khan Younis.
- July 20, 2025: The UN estimates that 50,000–80,000 civilians are affected by the evacuation, with severe overcrowding reported in remaining habitable areas.
- July 21, 2025: The Israel Defense Forces launch a ground offensive into Deir al-Balah—its first such operation in the area since the war began.
- Prior to July 21, 2025: The area of Deir al-Balah had been avoided by Israeli troops over concerns that Hamas was holding Israeli hostages there.