play_arrow

keyboard_arrow_right

Listeners:

Top listeners:

skip_previous skip_next
00:00 00:00
playlist_play chevron_left
volume_up
  • cover play_arrow

IDF Encircles Gaza City as Operation Gideon’s Chariots Advances

Background

by Emmitt Barry, with reporting from Worthy News Jerusalem Bureau Staff

JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have completed the encirclement of Gaza City, military officials said Tuesday, marking a significant milestone in their ground offensive.

Three IDF divisions secured control over strategic neighborhoods and access points, including Sheikh Radwan, the coastline, Sabra, and Tel al-Hawa. Military estimates suggest more than 600,000 residents have already fled the city amid the fighting.

“Hamas is currently in a state of confusion,” a military source told Maariv. “It doesn’t know where the IDF is striking from and has no clear sense of the scale of forces we’re using against them.”

Limited Clashes, Fallen Officer

Although clashes have remained limited, isolated battles have occurred. On Monday, Maj. Shahar Netanel Buzaglo, a company commander in the 77th Armored Battalion, was killed in combat.

“There has been limited movement of terrorists and the number of clashes is not large,” a military official added. “They probably prefer to dig in and preserve their strength.”

Reinforcing All Fronts

The IDF has reinforced its presence across the country as the High Holidays continue, deploying dozens of battalions on high alert. Forces have been stationed at roads, bus stops, junctions, shopping centers, and communities to bolster defenses against possible attacks.

“The many challenges before us–the fighting in Gaza City, defense in the north, and the constant battle against terrorism in Judea and Samaria–have recently converged with political statements, the holidays, the olive harvest, foreign incitement, and lone-wolf inspiration,” said IDF Central Command Chief Maj.-Gen. Avi Bluth. “All these are not reasons for optimism, but I am full of hope.”

Hamas Under Pressure

Reports from inside Gaza City suggest Hamas is resorting to violent measures to keep civilians from leaving. “We saw at the end of the week that Hamas attacked a UN convoy, which indicates their distress,” an Israeli source said. “We know more about the situation Hamas finds itself in in Gaza City.”

Arab media reported that IDF armored units advanced along several routes inside the city as part of Operation Gideon’s Chariots. The maneuvers were supported by Israeli Air Force strikes and artillery targeting Hamas infrastructure.

According to the Hamas-run Health Ministry, 38 people were killed and 190 wounded across Gaza in the past 24 hours.

Residents Flee Amid Hardship

Palestinian civilians continued to move southward, with Israeli officials estimating that over half a million Gazans have left Gaza City. But hundreds of thousands remain behind.

One local woman described the difficulty of leaving, saying conditions in the south were “catastrophic and unsafe.” She expressed fears that terrorists could be hiding among the displaced and appealed for help to relocate to Jericho, where her family lives.

Tanks Move Toward Key Sites

Eyewitnesses reported Israeli armored vehicles pushing into the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood and toward the Shati refugee camp, with sightings near al-Shifa hospital and a former Red Crescent building close to the Jordanian hospital. Palestinian outlets also claimed tanks were seen near UNRWA’s main headquarters in central Gaza City.

Large groups of residents were seen fleeing westward toward the coast as the IDF tightened its grip.

Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.


Latest News from Worthy News

Dutch Town Reels After 13-Year-Old Girl Detained In Parents’ Deaths
Dutch Town Reels After 13-Year-Old Girl Detained In Parents’ Deaths
Saturday, June 20, 2026

A Dutch community remained in shock Saturday after a 13-year-old girl was detained following the discovery of her parents’ bodies in their home in the northern Netherlands.

Bolivia Declares State Of Emergency As Deadly Protests Paralyze Nation
Bolivia Declares State Of Emergency As Deadly Protests Paralyze Nation
Saturday, June 20, 2026

Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz declared a 90-day state of emergency Saturday, empowering the military to clear road blockades after nearly 50 days of anti-government protests that have included widespread road blockades, leaving at least 14 people dead and crippling the nation’s economy.

Deadly Storm Batters Western Europe With Record Lightning, Widespread Damage
Deadly Storm Batters Western Europe With Record Lightning, Widespread Damage
Saturday, June 20, 2026

A powerful thunderstorm system sweeping across Western Europe killed at least one person in the Netherlands, injured several others in Belgium and Germany, and caused widespread damage as nearly 190,000 lightning flashes illuminated the skies, authorities said Saturday.

Israeli Strikes Kill 10 In Lebanon Despite Ceasefire; US-Iran Deal Faces Test (Worthy News Focus)
Israeli Strikes Kill 10 In Lebanon Despite Ceasefire; US-Iran Deal Faces Test (Worthy News Focus)
Saturday, June 20, 2026

Israeli strikes killed at least 10 people in Lebanon on Saturday despite a ceasefire that took effect hours earlier, officials said, with Israel claiming it was responding to attacks by the Iran-backed Hezbollah group.

Israel and Hezbollah Agree To Ceasefire; Oil Price Falls
Israel and Hezbollah Agree To Ceasefire; Oil Price Falls
Friday, June 19, 2026

Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire that was to begin Friday afternoon, Worthy News learned.

Ukraine Suffers New Strikes As EU Presses Russia For Ceasefire (Worthy News Radio)
Ukraine Suffers New Strikes As EU Presses Russia For Ceasefire (Worthy News Radio)
Friday, June 19, 2026

At least 10 people, including four children, were injured in a Russian strike on Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region, Ukrainian authorities said Friday. In southern Ukraine, the State Emergency Service reported that one person was killed and four others were injured in a separate Russian attack on the Odesa region.

‘Policy Blunder’ or ‘Pathway To Peace’: Republicans Divided Over Iran Deal
‘Policy Blunder’ or ‘Pathway To Peace’: Republicans Divided Over Iran Deal
Thursday, June 18, 2026

President Donald Trump signed the temporary peace deal with Iran ahead of schedule Wednesday at the Palace of Versailles in France, kicking off negotiations over a final nuclear deal.

WHO WE ARE

The Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs encapsulate the beauty, wisdom, and eternal truths found in the Bible, creating an immersive experience that resonates with believers and seekers alike.

CONTACT