With hostage talks still stalled, IDF starts first ground operations in central Gaza's Deir al-Balah

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Sunday announced the start of operations in the city of Deir al-Balah, an area in the central part of the Gaza Strip where the military has not yet operated since the start of the war.

IDF Arabic Spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee issued a warning on Sunday morning to the people in Deir al-Balah, instructing them to move into the humanitarian zone of al-Muwasi, further south.

#عاجل ‼️ إلى جميع المتواجدين في المنطقة الجنوبية الغربية من دير البلح، في البلوكات 130، 132-134، 136-139، 2351، بما في ذلك المتواجدين داخل الخيام الموجودة في المنطقة

⭕️يواصل جيش الدفاع العمل بقوة كبيرة لتدمير قدرات العدو والبنى التحتية الإرهابية في المنطقة حيث يوسّع أنشطته في… pic.twitter.com/dcDvPcJLC1

— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) July 20, 2025

“To all those present in the southwestern area of Deir al-Balah, in blocks 130, 132-134, 136-139, 2351, including those inside the tents located in the area:” Col. Adraee wrote on 𝕏, “the Israel Defense Forces continue to operate with great force to destroy the enemy's capabilities and terrorist infrastructure in the area, as it expands its activities in this region to operate in an area it has not operated in before. For your safety, evacuate the area immediately and move south toward Al-Mawasi.” 

With hostage-ceasefire talks apparently stalled again due to Hamas’ intransigence regarding the Palestinian prisoners it wants to set free, as well as the extent of the Israeli withdrawal, Israel's government appears to be increasing military pressure on the terror group to make it soften its stance in the talks. 

Last week, an Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post that “The flexibility and constructive approach shown by Israel in the negotiations are not matched by Hamas,” amid reports that Hamas refused to discuss the identity and number of Palestinian security prisoners to be released in exchange for the hostages without first agreeing on the redeployment of IDF troops in the Strip. 

The anonymous Israeli official said that Israel will not return to the same positions held during the January ceasefire. 

“There is no basis for that in any stage of the negotiations,” he stated. 

So far, the IDF has refrained from operating in Deir al-Balah, over concerns that such operations could endanger Israeli hostages held in the area.

During the most recent hostage release in January and February, some hostages were released from the Deir al-Balah area. The images of standing buildings and thousands of Gazans cheering at the sight of the Israeli hostages angered many in Israel.

The Hamas battalion in Deir al-Balah is considered to be relatively intact, and the military estimates that an operation to destroy it and clear the area of Hamas presence would require around two months.

Following the warning by Col. Adraee, the Hostage and Missing Families Forum issued a statement expressing alarm at the start of ground operations in an area known to have previously housed Israeli hostages. 

“Can anyone promise us that this decision will not come at the cost of the loss of our loved ones?” the Forum asked in a statement on Sunday morning.

“We expect the prime minister, the defense minister, and senior IDF officials to urgently explain to Israeli citizens and the families what the plan for the fighting is, and how exactly it protects the hostages who are still in Gaza.”