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The move came as Israeli troops officially entered Gaza City, intensifying the assault on what it calls the stronghold of Hamas fighters.
Israeli soldiers, tanks and armoured personnel carriers (APCs) near the Israel-Gaza border, in Israel. (Reuters)
Israel on Wednesday said it has opened a “temporary transportation route” to allow civilians to flee Gaza City, even as its forces pressed deeper into the territory with a major ground offensive following days of heavy bombardment.
Military spokesperson Avichay Adraee announced that the passage, running along Salah al-Din Street, would remain open for 48 hours only, urging residents to use the corridor to move south.
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The move came as Israeli troops officially entered Gaza City, intensifying the assault on what it calls the stronghold of Hamas fighters.
Israel’s ground offensive in Gaza City began Tuesday, with troops advancing block by block through the war-ravaged territory’s largest urban centre. Much of the city has already been reduced to rubble by weeks of bombardment, sending thousands fleeing in vehicles stacked with belongings, though hundreds of thousands remain trapped.
The military has offered no timeline for the campaign, saying only that its goal is to “destroy Hamas’ military infrastructure.” Israeli media reports suggest the operation could last months.
The push coincided with a UN Human Rights Council report accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, a charge Israel rejected as “distorted and false.” Defence Minister Israel Katz declared that “Gaza is burning” as heavy strikes pounded the city overnight.
⭕️ IDF troops have begun expanding ground operations in Gaza City as part of Operation Gideon’s Chariots IIIn the past day, IDF activity in Gaza City has began according to the operational plan, and is expected to expand in line with the current situational assessment.
Its aim… pic.twitter.com/dJBpd7wq1x
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) September 16, 2025
Long convoys of cars and trucks loaded with mattresses and supplies stretched along Gaza’s coastal road as residents tried to escape, with some walking on foot. During a brief regional visit, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioned that there was a “very short window of time in which a deal can happen” to halt the conflict, which has destabilised the Middle East for nearly two years.
About the Author
Covering day-to-day national and international news for the last nine years across print and digital. Associated with News18.com as Chief Sub-Editor since 2022, covering innumerable big and small events, includ…Read More
Covering day-to-day national and international news for the last nine years across print and digital. Associated with News18.com as Chief Sub-Editor since 2022, covering innumerable big and small events, includ… Read More
September 17, 2025, 11:25 IST
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