Israel launched a massive ground offensive in Gaza City on September 16, 2025, escalating the conflict in defiance of international condemnation.

Israeli military spokesman Effie Defrin estimated the operation to take "months" to complete. He said Israeli forces were in control of "widespread" areas of Gaza City, following weeks of bombardments on the city's neighborhoods of Jabalia, Zeitoun and Sheikh Radwan.

The assault forced thousands more Palestinians to flee the enclave's largest urban center, attempting to move south. For many, this is not the first time they have been displaced since the start of the conflict.