Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Tuesday, September 16, that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have launched a ground invasion of Gaza City—the largest and most decisive stage of the war to date.

Military sources estimate that over 350,000 Palestinians—nearly 40% of the city’s residents—have already fled, with evacuations expected to escalate as the fighting intensifies.

The assault began on Gaza’s outskirts with relentless airstrikes and the demolition of high-rise buildings before tanks pushed into central districts. Palestinian outlets reported heavy bombardment in Sheikh Radwan, al-Karama, and Tel al-Hawa, with witnesses describing artillery barrages and helicopter strikes blanketing northern Gaza. In one 20-minute span, local media counted 37 separate explosions, felt as far away as Tel Aviv.

Hospitals, including Al-Shifa and the Baptist Hospital, were inundated with dozens of casualties overnight—many of them children. Graphic videos circulating online showed bloodied survivors and families weeping over bodies wrapped in white shrouds.

“Gaza is burning,” declared Defense Minister Israel Katz. “The IDF strikes with an iron fist at terrorist infrastructure, and our soldiers fight with courage to free the hostages and crush Hamas. We will not relent until victory is secured.”

The United Nations warned that the invasion risks mass civilian displacement on a catastrophic scale.

Meanwhile, hostage families staged angry protests outside Netanyahu’s Jerusalem residence, accusing him of gambling with their loved ones’ lives. “This may be the last night for hostages barely clinging to life,” the Hostages’ Families Forum warned, vowing to keep up pressure. Several demonstrators accused Netanyahu of avoiding direct engagement with them.

Inside Israel’s military establishment, debate rages over the dangers of the campaign. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir cautioned that fully capturing Gaza City could result in severe Israeli casualties and further imperil hostages. Netanyahu, however, insisted that the ground advance is necessary to escalate pressure on Hamas and force a decisive outcome.