Israel launches ground operation in Gaza: Hamas may use hostages as human shields
Фото: Reuters
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has launched a massive ground operation to fully retake Gaza City. Despite Washington’s backing, experts warn that the offensive could result in significant casualties and endanger the lives of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
This was reported by Axios, citing sources in the military-political leadership of Israel.
On Monday, the Israeli Air Force launched intensive airstrikes on Gaza. After that, IDF tanks entered the city, marking the beginning of the ground phase of the operation.
The military action intensified shortly after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who conveyed the position of the Donald Trump administration – the United States supports the operation, but expects it to be short-lived and clearly limited in its objectives.
“We are dealing with people who have chosen the path of violence and barbarity,” Rubio said after talks with the Israeli leadership.
At the same time, one of the American officials, commenting on the situation, emphasized:
“This is not Trump’s war – this is Bibi’s war, and he will be responsible for its consequences.”
According to state-run KAN television, there is a danger that Hamas could use up to 20 Israeli hostages as human shields during the fighting in the city.
US President Donald Trump, in his statement on the social network Truth Social, warned militants against harming prisoners.
“I hope they realize what will happen if they harm the hostages. It would be an act of extreme cruelty. Release everyone immediately!” Trump wrote.
Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked Trump for his “strong support in the war against Hamas and efforts to free the hostages.”
Senior IDF commanders, as well as the heads of intelligence and special services — Mossad, Shin Bet, and military intelligence — have expressed serious reservations about the ground phase of the operation. They estimate that it:
could cause massive casualties among the Israeli military;
will put the lives of hostages at mortal risk;
does not guarantee the complete destruction of Hamas;
potentially forcing Israel to move to direct rule over Gaza, home to over two million people.
The Forum of Families of Hostages and Missing Persons also expressed its concern, issuing a public statement:
“This could be the last night for our relatives in Gaza. The Prime Minister is deliberately disregarding the position of the military command and putting the lives of the hostages at risk for political reasons.”
The military campaign is aimed at the complete elimination of Hamas militants — a response to the large-scale attack that the group carried out on October 7, 2023, on Israeli territory.
Before the operation began, the Israeli side called on civilian residents to leave Gaza and move south, to the so-called “humanitarian zones.” According to the IDF, about 300,000 people have already left the city.
Israel’s plans for a full-scale ground operation have sparked backlash in the European Union, Arab countries and parts of Israeli society, with critics pointing to a humanitarian catastrophe, risks to hostages and a possible escalation of the conflict.
As a reminder, on September 9, Israel carried out an airstrike on the Qatari capital, Doha, targeting the leadership of the terrorist organization Hamas . The strike occurred during a meeting of Hamas leaders to discuss the latest US ceasefire proposal. It has been officially confirmed that the target of the attack was senior Hamas officials, but reports of casualties remain conflicting.
As previously reported, the Israeli army has officially launched a ground operation in Gaza City . The country’s defense forces have already occupied the outskirts of the city and are gradually advancing inland.
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