Israeli Defense Forces have initiated a full-scale ground and aerial assault on Deir al‑Balah in central Gaza, marking the first time in 21 months that tanks have entered this relatively sheltered city. Columns of smoke have been seen rising over densely populated neighborhoods as Israeli tanks, supported by airstrikes, advance into the area and shell northern and eastern districts. Israeli authorities had issued evacuation orders for civilians to move south toward Al‑Mawasi prior to the operation.

Deir al‑Balah—until now a refuge for tens of thousands of internally displaced Gazans and NGOs—houses vital medical clinics and humanitarian facilities. Many of these have been forced to close or evacuate. Witnesses report at least three civilians killed and numerous others wounded in initial shelling. Israeli forces claim the offensive targets Hamas militants and their infrastructure, including suspected sites holding Israeli hostages.

The timing of this offensive has intensified global concern. Cities across Gaza are now subject to evacuation orders, with UN OCHA stating that nearly 88% of the territory is militarized or emptied of civilians—confined to just 12% of the land. More than 1.5 million people are at risk of severe malnutrition or famine, according to the IPC. Gaza’s Hamas‑run health ministry reports over 59,000 deaths since October 7, 2023, including a disturbing 19 confirmed starvation-related deaths in the past 24 hours alone.

International response has been swift: 26 nations, including key European powers, have jointly called for an immediate ceasefire, warning of unprecedented civilian suffering. Humanitarian organizations decry the continued inability to safely deliver aid into Gaza, with clinics shut down and hundreds of thousands facing escalating hunger and health emergencies.

As Deir al‑Balah becomes the new frontline, concerns mount over both the fate of civilians and the dozens of Israeli hostages believed to be held there. With humanitarian conditions collapsing and ceasefire negotiations still stalled, this offensive deepens an already dire chapter of the Gaza conflict.

Sources:

The Guardian ,DW , Reuters , AP News