'Eliminating Hamas terrorists & dismantling military structures': IDF continues advance through Gaza City

The Israel Defense Forces on Wednesday continued to advance in force on Gaza City, as part of Operation Gideon's Chariots II, aiming to capture the major stronghold of Hamas and to free the Israeli hostages.

Soldiers of the 98th and 162nd Divisions “are eliminating terrorists and dismantling military structures used by the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip,” the military stated.

“Over the past two days, the IAF and artillery corps troops struck over 150 terror targets throughout Gaza City in support of the maneuvering troops in the area,” it added.

According to Army Radio, the military sees its required achievement as: “the destruction of Hamas infrastructure up to the collapse of the organization.”

⭕️Operation Gideon’s Chariots II
IDF troops in Gaza City:

⚔️ Eliminated terrorists & dismantled terrorist sites.

💥 Struck a Hamas weapons production facility – secondary explosions were identified, confirming the presence of weapons in the facility.

✈️ IAF & Artillery Corps…

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) September 17, 2025

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir joined the troops on the frontlines on Tuesday, telling them, “Upon your shoulders lies the mission to decisively defeat the Gaza City brigade.”

“The maneuver into Gaza City is a significant move in order to carry out the most moral and important mission of all – bringing all the hostages home and collapsing Hamas’s military and governmental capabilities,” he emphasized.

Defense Minister Israel Katz visited the headquarters of the 162nd Division on Tuesday and spoke to its commanders.

“From Hamas, we need only two things – both of which it will not give willingly: to release all the hostages and to disarm. As the intensity of the attack here increases it directly leads to Hamas's defeat and also creates greater leverage for the release of the hostages,” he said.

“We want to take control of Gaza City because it is currently the main symbol of Hamas's rule. Today, if Gaza falls – as they say – they will fall. And if they fall, we can shorten the path to our objectives more quickly,” Katz added.

“Gaza City is the central hub of Hamas’s military and governing power – their main stronghold. Hamas has turned Gaza City into the largest human shield in history”

🎥WATCH: BG Effie Defrin on the expanded ground activity in Gaza City. pic.twitter.com/W8k9rRCZnO

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) September 16, 2025

The IDF estimates that only one Hamas brigade remains in Gaza City, Army Radio reported. However, that brigade has thousands of fighters who were reinforced by new, underage recruits trained for guerrilla operations.

In addition, the significant tunnel infrastructure in the area has not received proper “treatment” in previous operations and remains operational.

The report added that currently around 130,000 reservists are mobilized, with relatively high turnout rates of 75–85%, which the military said is “satisfactory.”

On the operational side, the plan is to advance through the city systematically and in stages, allowing the political echelon to halt the fighting for negotiations or to implement a ceasefire agreement, if possible.

⭕️ IDF troops have begun expanding ground operations in Gaza City as part of Operation Gideon’s Chariots II

In 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

The start of the operation was accompanied by a massive bombing campaign, with explosions being audible up to Tel Aviv and the Jerusalem foothills.

Palestinians also reported the frequent use of what they call “booby-trapped robots.”

These are old IDF armored personnel carriers that are filled with large amounts of explosives and are driven into booby-trapped building compounds to destroy them before ground troops enter the area.

According to security officials, over 20 such APCs were detonated by the IDF in Gaza City in the opening stage of the operation, Army Radio reported.

“The maneuver in Gaza City is a significant step to carry out our highest moral and important duty — to return all the hostages home and to dismantle the military and governing capabilities of the Hamas terrorist organization.”

-The Chief of the General Staff LTG Eyal Zamir at a… pic.twitter.com/NZiXl0g5Qz

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) September 16, 2025

The military stressed: “No effort is spared to safeguard our forces. We strike only terror infrastructure that has been intelligence-verified.”

“The IDF is the people's army – that is its source of strength,” declared IDF chief Zamir while visiting the troops in the field.

“The return of our hostages is a war objective and a national and moral obligation. Even now, as the people of Israel prepare to gather around the holiday table, our soldiers are deployed in defense and offense out of a sense of mission and deep commitment to the nation – unity and camaraderie that are irreplaceable.”