Israel's Land Attacks on Gaza (September 2025)

Israel’s Ground Offensives Against Gaza (September 2025) are ground operations launched on 16 September 2025 with the objective of occupying the entire city of Gaza. Under the “Gideon Cars 2” plan, these operations were preceded by intense aerial and artillery bombardments that inflicted heavy damage on residential areas, high-rise buildings, and infrastructure. With the commencement of ground operations, civilians were forcibly displaced en masse, and numerous women and children lost their lives.

Commencement of Ground Offensives

The Israeli military launched large-scale ground offensives against the city of Gaza on 16 September 2025. Official statements indicated that the operations aimed at occupying the city. In the initial phase, two divisions were deployed to the battlefield, with a third division planned to join in the following days. The ground offensives began in the neighborhoods of Gaza City, with further targeting of other areas of the city announced.

The operations were publicly designated by the Israeli military under the code name “Gideon Cars 2.” Official military communications stated that this marked the transition to the second phase of the plan, with the objective of fully occupying Gaza City. Prior to the advance of ground forces, Israel conducted weeks of intense aerial and artillery bombardments against Gaza. During this period, high-rise buildings and populated areas were targeted, resulting in severe destruction in Gaza’s most densely inhabited regions.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on 16 September that ground offensives had begun. Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, in a statement on his social media account, declared “Gaza is burning” and confirmed that the military had launched attacks on the city.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Netanyahu in Jerusalem shortly before the commencement of the offensives. During the talks, it was reported that US President Donald Trump supported the ground offensive but insisted it be concluded swiftly. A US official stated, “This is Netanyahu’s war,” underscoring that full responsibility for the operation lay with the Israeli government.

Israeli Chief of General Staff Eyal Zamir and senior security officials warned Netanyahu that the ground offensives could lead to further Israeli military casualties and that Hamas could not be completely defeated. Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid described the offensives as “futile,” warning that large-scale ground operations could endanger the lives of Israeli captives.

Offensives and Civilian Casualties

As the intensity of attacks escalated between 16 and 17 September 2025, over 100 Palestinians across Gaza lost their lives. At least 86 bodies were delivered to hospitals in Gaza City. Nine people were killed in the central region of the Gaza Strip and six in the south. Hospital sources reported that many of the deceased were women and children.

Areas where displaced civilians had sought shelter also became targets of attacks. Tents erected for shelter in the Bureij Refugee Camp were bombed. The Ummul Kura School, housing displaced families in the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood, was struck, resulting in casualties. Other schools and tents used as shelters for displaced persons in various parts of Gaza were also targeted.

In the Sabra neighborhood in southern Gaza, an attack on a house killed four people. In the Shati Refugee Camp in the west, an airstrike on a home left many civilians wounded, mostly women and children. The area around Hamame School in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood was subjected to bombardment. In the same neighborhood, in the Birket area, houses were destroyed by explosive-laden robots. Unmanned aerial vehicles were also reported to have fired on civilian areas.

Forced Displacement and Humanitarian Situation

Shortly before launching the ground offensives in Gaza City, the Israeli military called on civilians to evacuate the area. Military spokesperson Avichay Adraee urged residents to move southward along Rashid Street, effectively forcing the Palestinian population into displacement. These calls were also repeated via social media accounts.

The United Nations Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) declared a famine situation in Gaza on 22 August 2025. According to the announcement, famine conditions could spread to the Deir al-Balah and Khan Yunis areas by the end of September. The number of deaths from starvation in Gaza between 7 October 2023 and 16 September 2025 rose to 428, including 146 children. Between August and mid-September, 150 people died from starvation, 31 of whom were children.

UNICEF announced that approximately 26,000 children in the Gaza Strip required treatment for acute malnutrition. UNICEF spokesperson Tess Ingram stated that over half a million children had been traumatized by the war and forcibly displaced. Most of these children were directed to temporary tent settlements designated as “so-called humanitarian zones.”

International Reactions

Türkiye’s Response

The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement condemning the ground offensive against Gaza City as “a new phase of genocide plans.” The ministry stated that the attacks had destroyed safe zones for at least one million civilians in Gaza, forced hundreds of thousands to be displaced again, and worsened the humanitarian situation. The statement also emphasized that Israel had rejected ceasefire proposals and called on the international community to assume its responsibilities.

Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran, in a statement on the social media platform NSosyal, described the attacks as “the latest bloody phase of genocide” and called on the international community to act urgently. Duran stated that all international mechanisms, beginning with the United Nations Security Council, must immediately enforce a ceasefire, halt the attacks, and ensure Israel is held accountable under international law.

Egypt and Jordan’s Responses

The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs characterized the expansion of ground offensives as “a serious escalation” and “a clear violation of international humanitarian law.” The ministry stated that the attacks were “irresponsible” and could lead to catastrophic consequences for Palestinian territories and the region. The statement emphasized that the international community’s inaction in the face of such crimes and genocide carries responsibility.

The Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the expansion of the attacks as “a clear violation of international and humanitarian law.” Ministry spokesperson Fouad Mijalli stated that Israel’s attempts to create new facts on the ground had been rejected and that forced displacement of Palestinians was firmly opposed. Jordan also warned that the attacks could trigger a new cycle of violence in both Gaza and the West Bank, threatening regional security.

Canada, France, and Italy’s Responses

The Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the ground offensives in Gaza as “horrific” and stated that they were deepening the humanitarian crisis. The statement noted that the attacks also endangered the release of captives. Canada called for a lasting ceasefire, unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid, and the immediate release of all captives.

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged Israel to end its “destructive campaign.” The statement indicated that the attacks had lost any remaining military rationale and that negotiations must be resumed.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated his government’s opposition to Israel’s ground offensives in Gaza and highlighted the serious risks to civilians. Tajani emphasized that diplomatic efforts to achieve a ceasefire must be accelerated.

Call to Scotland and the United Kingdom

Scottish First Minister John Swinney called on the United Kingdom government to impose sanctions on Israel. Swinney described Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide” and stated that silence or inaction would be unacceptable. The statement stressed that recent UN reports and the intensity of attacks in Gaza should serve as a warning to the United Kingdom.

Statements by the United Nations Secretary-General

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the attacks in Gaza as “horrendous.” Guterres noted that it was not within his authority to label Israel’s actions as genocide, as such determinations fall under the jurisdiction of judicial bodies such as the International Court of Justice. However, he characterized the events in Gaza as “systematic destruction” and stated that “unprecedented civilian losses” were occurring.

International Law and Reports

UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry Report

The United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry assessed Israel’s actions in Gaza under the framework of genocide. According to the commission’s report, Israel has committed four of the five acts defined in the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide: (1) killing Palestinians, (2) causing serious bodily or mental harm, (3) deliberately imposing conditions of life calculated to bring about the physical destruction of the Palestinian population in whole or in part, and (4) measures intended to prevent births. The report emphasized that these acts violate international law.

Assessments by UN Experts

UN experts stated that the ground offensives in Gaza constitute a “doomsday scenario” for persons with disabilities. They noted that individuals with limited mobility are forced to crawl through rubble and that shelters are inaccessible. Experts highlighted that persons with disabilities face an extremely high risk of exposure to starvation, dehydration, injury, violence, and abuse. They also emphasized that Israel, as an occupying power, is violating its international obligations, including under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.