On the night of September 15–16, the IDF announced the launch of ground operations in Gaza, as part of Operation Gideon’s Chariots II. At present, three IDF divisions are operating in the Gaza City area, encircling the city from the north, east, and south. The objective of the maneuver is to seize Hamas’s last strongholds in the heart of Gaza City and to secure the release of the hostages.
The Palestinian Authority condemned the start of the IDF’s operation in Gaza, called for international intervention, and demanded that the United States hold Israel accountable. No significant protests have taken place so far in PA-controlled territory, however, aside from several small demonstrations in city centers that also addressed the issue of Palestinian prisoners.
Hamas, for its part, is attempting to create a “humanitarian crisis,” warning of the imminent collapse of the health system in the Strip. It has also called for demonstrations of rage and protests against Israel worldwide as an expression of solidarity with Gaza’s residents.
On the streets of Gaza, despair and frustration persist. Alongside calls for an immediate end to the war, reports describe widespread fear among residents as well as deep uncertainty about their future. Some have criticized Hamas’s leadership for residing in luxury hotels in Qatar and voiced anger at the silence of the international community.
At the same time, reports continue of large numbers of residents leaving Gaza City for the southern Strip. According to IDF estimates, approximately 350,000–500,000 residents have evacuated, while Hamas claims the number is significantly lower, around 190,000.
Start of the Ground Maneuver in Gaza
On the night of September 15–16, the IDF announced the launch of ground operations in Gaza as part of Operation Gideon’s Chariots II. Three IDF divisions (162, 98, and 36) are operating in Gaza City with the aim of seizing Hamas strongholds in the city center. So far, the IDF has struck more than 150 terrorist targets in Gaza City. According to the IDF, it controls about 40 percent of the city’s territory, and roughly 350,000–500,000 residents have left the city.
Palestinian and Arab media are providing ongoing coverage through their field reporters deployed across Gaza City. According to their reports, IDF forces are surrounding Gaza City from all directions. The Israeli Air Force is conducting massive strikes on buildings and other targets, while tanks are firing into the city center. The focal point of IDF activity according to these accounts is the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood in southwestern Gaza City, where strikes and shelling are said to be unrelenting.
Israeli air strikes in Gaza city. Photo: IMAGO / APAimages
The Palestinian Authority
Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesperson for Mahmoud Abbas’s office, issued a statement after the start of the IDF’s ground operation in Gaza. He said the assault represents a grave escalation that endangers many lives in Gaza and could worsen the humanitarian crisis in the Strip. Abu Rudeineh condemned statements from Israeli officials about intentions to burn Gaza and reoccupy it. He also called on the U.S. administration to assume responsibility, prevent Israel from carrying out its military plan in Gaza, and immediately halt the military operation.[1]
On September 18, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry published a post on its official Facebook page condemning Israeli statements about Gaza and Israel’s treatment of Gaza as property to be sold or divided. The ministry said Gaza is an inseparable part of the Palestinian state, condemned the escalation of the fighting there and urged international intervention to halt Israel’s latest operation.[2] In another post on September 16, the ministry condemned the Israeli incursion into Gaza and claimed Israel intends to turn Gaza City into “a mass grave and make it uninhabitable.”[3]
In the PA territories (Ramallah, Nablus, Jenin, Bethlehem, and Hebron), demonstrations were held on September 16 in support of Palestinian prisoners, with the war in Gaza added to the agenda after the start of the ground operation. Protesters carried signs calling for an end to the war and to the “starvation” in Gaza.
Hamas
On September 18, Hamas issued a global call to increase demonstrations of support and solidarity with Gaza worldwide from September 19–21. As part of this campaign, it urged mass protests against Israel and its supporters to immediately stop “Israel’s actions against Gaza’s residents.”[4] In an official statement on September 16, coinciding with the start of the ground operation, Hamas accused the U.S. administration of direct responsibility for escalating what it called Israel’s “war of extermination” in the Gaza Strip. It claimed President Trump’s remarks about the IDF’s actions amounted to “a vile bias in favor of Zionism.”[5]
The Gaza Government Information Office (controlled by Hamas) issued a statement on September 16 claiming that about one million residents of Gaza City and northern Gaza are refusing to evacuate and remain in their homes. According to the statement, only 190,000 residents have so far evacuated to the southern Strip, of whom some 15,000 returned to Gaza the same day.[6]
The Gaza Health Ministry (also controlled by Hamas) continues to warn of the collapse of the health system, citing shortages of fuel and medical supplies and overwhelming pressure on hospitals due to the high number of casualties since the ground operation began. It claimed that Israel is preventing international organizations from bringing fuel into Gaza for hospitals in the Strip.
The Gazan Street
The Wafa news agency continues to report daily on large numbers of residents leaving Gaza City for the southern Strip in response to the IDF’s massive strikes. The agency has documented long convoys of vehicles packed with belongings traveling along Gaza’s coastal road (al-Rashid Street) toward the south. Residents interviewed by Wafa described an atmosphere of fear and panic, saying they were heading south without knowing where they were going or whether it would be any safer.[7]
Residents interviewed by Al Jazeera complained about the high cost of transportation from Gaza to the southern Strip, saying they were forced to make the journey on foot. They criticized Arab leaders for failing to do enough to help them and end the war in Gaza.[8] Other residents who reached the al-Mawasi zone in Khan Younis complained about severe overcrowding, a lack of tents, and shortages of essential facilities. Many said they were forced to sleep on the ground without shelter.
Palestinians move southward after Israeli forces ordered residents of Gaza City to evacuate to the south. Photo: IMAGO / APAimages
A Gaza resident interviewed by Wafa said there is no room in the southern Strip to accommodate everyone from Gaza City, with land rents at NIS 35 per square meter and the price of a gallon of water at NIS 25. He told the news agency that the south is no safer, so he and his family settled in the compound of al-Quds Hospital in Gaza’s Tel al-Hawa neighborhood. It made no difference whether he died in the south or in Gaza City, he told Wafa.[9]
Notably, on that last point that the hashtag #mashta’alin (“We’re not leaving”) was launched on social media promoting the idea of refusing to evacuate Gaza. One video shows a young man from Gaza’s al-Tuffah neighborhood shouting that he will never leave, even if it costs him his life, while the crowd cheers. Another hashtag that emerged after the start of the ground operation is #GazaDestroyedAndBurned, under which users post images of widespread devastation from IDF strikes and of numerous casualties.
Monitoring of social media and the responses of Gaza residents since the start of the ground operation highlights the following:
Many in Gaza see the operation as an attempt to empty it of its residents. They express mixed feelings of anger, fear, insecurity, and frustration amid unprecedented destruction and international silence (“they left us alone”). Many users said they have nothing left to live for, do not know their fate, and are crying out for an immediate ceasefire.
They view Israel’s action as revenge, intended to destroy what remains rather than a fight against Gaza’s terror groups. Residents posted that the current destruction is worse than during any previous war, claiming the IDF is demolishing everything indiscriminately.
One Gaza resident sharply criticized Hamas leaders hiding in luxury hotels in Qatar. He also cursed Ghazi Hamad, who recently survived an Israeli assassination attempt there.
Maj. (res.) Avi Tal is a graduate of Unit 8200 in IDF Military Intelligence and formerly served in the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) unit as an advisor on Arab affairs. He spent 12 years as a researcher on the Palestinian arena at the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (ITIC). He holds a bachelor's degree in Arabic and Middle Eastern studies and a master's degree in Arabic from Bar-Ilan University.
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Home page / Articles / Palestinian Reactions to the Start of the Ground Operation in Gaza
Palestinian Reactions to the Start of the Ground Operation in Gaza
Photo: IMAGO / UPI Photo
Key Points
On the night of September 15–16, the IDF announced the launch of ground operations in Gaza, as part of Operation Gideon’s Chariots II. At present, three IDF divisions are operating in the Gaza City area, encircling the city from the north, east, and south. The objective of the maneuver is to seize Hamas’s last strongholds in the heart of Gaza City and to secure the release of the hostages.
The Palestinian Authority condemned the start of the IDF’s operation in Gaza, called for international intervention, and demanded that the United States hold Israel accountable. No significant protests have taken place so far in PA-controlled territory, however, aside from several small demonstrations in city centers that also addressed the issue of Palestinian prisoners.
Hamas, for its part, is attempting to create a “humanitarian crisis,” warning of the imminent collapse of the health system in the Strip. It has also called for demonstrations of rage and protests against Israel worldwide as an expression of solidarity with Gaza’s residents.
On the streets of Gaza, despair and frustration persist. Alongside calls for an immediate end to the war, reports describe widespread fear among residents as well as deep uncertainty about their future. Some have criticized Hamas’s leadership for residing in luxury hotels in Qatar and voiced anger at the silence of the international community.
At the same time, reports continue of large numbers of residents leaving Gaza City for the southern Strip. According to IDF estimates, approximately 350,000–500,000 residents have evacuated, while Hamas claims the number is significantly lower, around 190,000.
Start of the Ground Maneuver in Gaza
On the night of September 15–16, the IDF announced the launch of ground operations in Gaza as part of Operation Gideon’s Chariots II. Three IDF divisions (162, 98, and 36) are operating in Gaza City with the aim of seizing Hamas strongholds in the city center. So far, the IDF has struck more than 150 terrorist targets in Gaza City. According to the IDF, it controls about 40 percent of the city’s territory, and roughly 350,000–500,000 residents have left the city.
Palestinian and Arab media are providing ongoing coverage through their field reporters deployed across Gaza City. According to their reports, IDF forces are surrounding Gaza City from all directions. The Israeli Air Force is conducting massive strikes on buildings and other targets, while tanks are firing into the city center. The focal point of IDF activity according to these accounts is the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood in southwestern Gaza City, where strikes and shelling are said to be unrelenting.
The Palestinian Authority
Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesperson for Mahmoud Abbas’s office, issued a statement after the start of the IDF’s ground operation in Gaza. He said the assault represents a grave escalation that endangers many lives in Gaza and could worsen the humanitarian crisis in the Strip. Abu Rudeineh condemned statements from Israeli officials about intentions to burn Gaza and reoccupy it. He also called on the U.S. administration to assume responsibility, prevent Israel from carrying out its military plan in Gaza, and immediately halt the military operation.[1]
On September 18, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry published a post on its official Facebook page condemning Israeli statements about Gaza and Israel’s treatment of Gaza as property to be sold or divided. The ministry said Gaza is an inseparable part of the Palestinian state, condemned the escalation of the fighting there and urged international intervention to halt Israel’s latest operation.[2] In another post on September 16, the ministry condemned the Israeli incursion into Gaza and claimed Israel intends to turn Gaza City into “a mass grave and make it uninhabitable.”[3]
In the PA territories (Ramallah, Nablus, Jenin, Bethlehem, and Hebron), demonstrations were held on September 16 in support of Palestinian prisoners, with the war in Gaza added to the agenda after the start of the ground operation. Protesters carried signs calling for an end to the war and to the “starvation” in Gaza.
Hamas
On September 18, Hamas issued a global call to increase demonstrations of support and solidarity with Gaza worldwide from September 19–21. As part of this campaign, it urged mass protests against Israel and its supporters to immediately stop “Israel’s actions against Gaza’s residents.”[4] In an official statement on September 16, coinciding with the start of the ground operation, Hamas accused the U.S. administration of direct responsibility for escalating what it called Israel’s “war of extermination” in the Gaza Strip. It claimed President Trump’s remarks about the IDF’s actions amounted to “a vile bias in favor of Zionism.”[5]
The Gaza Government Information Office (controlled by Hamas) issued a statement on September 16 claiming that about one million residents of Gaza City and northern Gaza are refusing to evacuate and remain in their homes. According to the statement, only 190,000 residents have so far evacuated to the southern Strip, of whom some 15,000 returned to Gaza the same day.[6]
The Gaza Health Ministry (also controlled by Hamas) continues to warn of the collapse of the health system, citing shortages of fuel and medical supplies and overwhelming pressure on hospitals due to the high number of casualties since the ground operation began. It claimed that Israel is preventing international organizations from bringing fuel into Gaza for hospitals in the Strip.
The Gazan Street
The Wafa news agency continues to report daily on large numbers of residents leaving Gaza City for the southern Strip in response to the IDF’s massive strikes. The agency has documented long convoys of vehicles packed with belongings traveling along Gaza’s coastal road (al-Rashid Street) toward the south. Residents interviewed by Wafa described an atmosphere of fear and panic, saying they were heading south without knowing where they were going or whether it would be any safer.[7]
Residents interviewed by Al Jazeera complained about the high cost of transportation from Gaza to the southern Strip, saying they were forced to make the journey on foot. They criticized Arab leaders for failing to do enough to help them and end the war in Gaza.[8] Other residents who reached the al-Mawasi zone in Khan Younis complained about severe overcrowding, a lack of tents, and shortages of essential facilities. Many said they were forced to sleep on the ground without shelter.
A Gaza resident interviewed by Wafa said there is no room in the southern Strip to accommodate everyone from Gaza City, with land rents at NIS 35 per square meter and the price of a gallon of water at NIS 25. He told the news agency that the south is no safer, so he and his family settled in the compound of al-Quds Hospital in Gaza’s Tel al-Hawa neighborhood. It made no difference whether he died in the south or in Gaza City, he told Wafa.[9]
Notably, on that last point that the hashtag #mashta’alin (“We’re not leaving”) was launched on social media promoting the idea of refusing to evacuate Gaza. One video shows a young man from Gaza’s al-Tuffah neighborhood shouting that he will never leave, even if it costs him his life, while the crowd cheers. Another hashtag that emerged after the start of the ground operation is #GazaDestroyedAndBurned, under which users post images of widespread devastation from IDF strikes and of numerous casualties.
Monitoring of social media and the responses of Gaza residents since the start of the ground operation highlights the following:
[1] https://www.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/130025
[2] https://www.facebook.com/mofa.pna/posts/pfbid035gN2rY7qfFpaguF47hxBHepbMjp9hmdo7jJE7CniUK64Rqp5pAFXGWWvpkBmoPZdl
[3] https://35w6.short.gy/4kry4h
[4] https://palinfo.com/news/2025/09/18/974013
[5] https://35w6.short.gy/dpu4g6
[6] https://35w6.short.gy/ujiwvu
[7] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNTOPw1VwEc&ab_channel=WafaAgency
[8] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NO4utIqr8oQ&ab_channel=AlJazeeraArabic%D9%82%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%A9%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A9
[9] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9KsRAUKWaY&ab_channel=WafaAgency
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Maj. (res.) Avi Tal
Maj. (res.) Avi Tal is a graduate of Unit 8200 in IDF Military Intelligence and formerly served in the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) unit as an advisor on Arab affairs. He spent 12 years as a researcher on the Palestinian arena at the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (ITIC). He holds a bachelor's degree in Arabic and Middle Eastern studies and a master's degree in Arabic from Bar-Ilan University.
Recent publications
Hamas’s Battle with Gaza’s “Rogue Clans” in the Eyes of the Palestinian Public
The Pakistan–Saudi Defense Agreement: A First Step Toward an “Islamic NATO”?
Economic Strain and Strategic Restraint in Post-Snapback Iran
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