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

U.S. Completes Withdrawal From Paris Climate Agreement Under Trump Order
U.S. Completes Withdrawal From Paris Climate Agreement Under Trump Order
Wednesday, January 28, 2026

The United States has formally completed its withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement, the State Department confirmed Tuesday, marking President Donald Trump’s second exit from the global climate pact and fulfilling a key pledge of his administration’s “America First” agenda.

Trump Says ‘America Is Back’ After S&P Hits 7,000 Points For First Time In History
Trump Says ‘America Is Back’ After S&P Hits 7,000 Points For First Time In History
Wednesday, January 28, 2026

U.S. President Donald J. Trump said Wednesday that “America is back” after the S&P 500 Index, which tracks the 500 largest publicly traded companies in the United States, surpassed the 7,000-point mark for the first time in its history.

Rubio Explains Reasoning Behind Trump’s Venezuela Strikes In Senate Hearing
Rubio Explains Reasoning Behind Trump’s Venezuela Strikes In Senate Hearing
Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Amid congressional outcry over the Trump administration’s military actions in Venezuela, Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the moves Wednesday and outlined future plans to U.S. lawmakers.

Census Projections Show Red States To See Gains In U.S. House Seats, Electoral College
Census Projections Show Red States To See Gains In U.S. House Seats, Electoral College
Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Several blue states appear set to lose electoral college votes while red states will make sweeping gains, new data from the U.S. Census Bureau suggests.

Putin Hosts Syria’s al-Sharaa as Russia Seeks to Secure Military Footprint
Putin Hosts Syria’s al-Sharaa as Russia Seeks to Secure Military Footprint
Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Vladimir Putin met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the Kremlin on Wednesday, as Russia moves to safeguard its remaining military bases in Syria following a dramatic shift in power in the war-torn nation.

U.S. Finds Palestinian Authority Paid Over $200 Million to Terrorists Despite Ending ‘Pay-to-Slay’ Claim
U.S. Finds Palestinian Authority Paid Over $200 Million to Terrorists Despite Ending ‘Pay-to-Slay’ Claim
Wednesday, January 28, 2026

The U.S. State Department has determined that the Palestinian Authority paid more than $200 million to terrorists and their families in 2025, despite claims by PA President Mahmoud Abbas that the controversial “pay-to-slay” program had been ended.

Doomsday Clock Moves to 85 Seconds to Midnight, Closest Ever to Global Catastrophe
Doomsday Clock Moves to 85 Seconds to Midnight, Closest Ever to Global Catastrophe
Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Atomic scientists on Tuesday moved the symbolic “Doomsday Clock” to 85 seconds to midnight, the closest humanity has ever come to theoretical self-annihilation—yet the warning is not meant to declare destiny. For people of faith, the tightening of the hour carries prophetic weight, echoing past moments when global shaking preceded awakening, repentance, and renewal, serving as a call to restrain destructive paths and realign human choices toward life, wisdom, and peace.

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