Deir al-Balah offensive

Battle of Deir al-Balah
Part of the May 2025 Gaza offensive of the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip during the Gaza war
October 2023 Gaza−Israel conflict.svg
Date21 July 2025–present
Location
Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Palestine
Status Ongoing
Belligerents
Israel Hamas
Commanders and leaders
Israel Unknown Palestine Unknown
Units involved
Casualties and losses
Israel Unknown Palestine Unknown
13 killed by airstrikes[1]
19 Palestinian civilians died from hunger[2]

On 20 July 2025, Israel began an air and ground offensive in Deir al-Balah as part of its invasion of the Gaza Strip during the Gaza war.

Background

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had not launched an offensive into Deir al-Balah since the start of the Gaza war, though the city had experienced intensifying Israeli aerial bombardment and incidents such as the World Central Kitchen aid convoy attack in April 2024 and Deir al-Balah mosque bombing in October 2024.[3] According to Israeli sources, the IDF had stayed out of Deir al-Balah because it suspected Hamas might be holding hostages there. The offensive began as more than 130 Palestinians were killed and over 1,000 were wounded by Israeli gunfire the previous day.[4]

Timeline

On 20 July, the IDF issued evacuation orders for Deir al-Balah by dropping leaflets, calling on all its displaced residents to evacuate immediately to al-Mawasi. The evacuation orders would force between 50,000 and 80,000 people in Deir al-Balah to leave the city, leaving 87.8% of the Gaza Strip under evacuation orders.[5] On the same day, it began conducting airstrikes in the area.[6]

On 21 July, the IDF intensified its airstrikes on Deir al-Balah and began a ground incursion into the southern and eastern parts of the city.[5] Medical Aid for Palestinians reported Israeli shelling and quadcopter strikes around their office in the city.[7] Israeli tanks subsequently advanced into the outskirts of Deir al-Balah. Israel Army Radio stated that the Golani Brigade had "begun a ground maneuver in the southern Deir al-Balah area."[8] Tank shelling in the city hit houses and mosques, killing at least three Palestinians and wounding several others.[4] The United Nations reported that its guesthouses in Deir al-Balah were attacked three times, with airstrikes causing extensive damage and a fire.[9][10] The IDF raided UN facilities and handcuffed and stripped two WHO staff and two family members and held them at gunpoint, later releasing three while keeping one staff member in detention.[11] Hamas said it ambushed Israeli troops invading Deir al-Balah, detonating a "powerful landmine" in Umm Dhahir as a Merkava tank passed by.[12]

Reactions

State actors

  • United Kingdom: Foreign Minster David Lammy condemned the offensive and said it puts the Israeli hostages in "grave danger." He also said that Israel must answer "what possible military justification can there be for strikes that have killed desperate starving children."[13]

Intergovernmental organizations

  • United Nations: UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric condemned the offensive, stating that it threatens to deprive hundreds of thousands of Palestinians of a main source of drinking water.[14]
    • World Health Organization: The WHO condemned what it called a "blatant attack" on its facilities and staff in Deir al-Balah, and called for a ceasefire.[15] WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus demanded the "immediate release of the detained staff and protection of all its staff."[10]
    • UN Human Rights Office: OHCHR chief Volker Türk said the offensive would "invariably lead to further civilian deaths" and has " added more misery to the suffering of hungry Palestinians."[16]

References

  1. ^ Ambrose, Tom; Coughlan, Joe; Bryant, Tom (21 July 2025). "Israel launches air and ground assault on Deir al-Balah in central Gaza – as it happened". the Guardian.
  2. ^ Beaumont, Peter. "Israel launches air and ground offensive on Deir al-Balah in central Gaza". Guardian. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  3. ^ "Why IDF avoided Hamas's Deir al-Balah stronghold until now | The Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 21 July 2025. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  4. ^ a b Al-Mughrabi, Nidal; Al-Mughrabi, Nidal (21 July 2025). "Israel sends tanks into Gaza's Deir al-Balah, hostage families concerned". Reuters. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  5. ^ a b Beaumont, Peter (21 July 2025). "Israel launches air and ground offensive on Deir al-Balah in central Gaza". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  6. ^ "Israeli forces kill 67 Palestinians seeking aid in northern Gaza, Hamas-run ministry says". BBC News. 20 July 2025. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  7. ^ "UK and 24 nations accuse Israel of 'drip feeding' aid to Gaza civilians as they condemn 'horrifying' killings". BBC News. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  8. ^ Yosef, Eugenia; al Sawalhi, Yosef; Lister, Tim; Khadder, Kareem (21 July 2025). "Israeli tanks roll into Gazan city of Deir al-Balah for first time since war began". CNN. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  9. ^ "Israeli forces push into parts of a central Gaza city that the war had largely spared". AP News. 21 July 2025. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  10. ^ a b "IDF says Israeli soldiers did not attack WHO staff in Gaza | The Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 22 July 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  11. ^ Boxerman, Aaron (22 July 2025). "Israel Expands Attacks in Central Gaza City and Raids W.H.O. Offices". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  12. ^ "At least 65 killed in Gaza attacks as Israel sends tanks into Deir el-Balah". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  13. ^ "UK and 24 nations accuse Israel of 'drip feeding' aid to Gaza civilians as they condemn 'horrifying' killings". BBC News. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  14. ^ Magid, Jacob. "UN says IDF offensive in Deir al-Balah threatens to deprive Gazan's of key water sources". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  15. ^ "WHO condemns Israeli attack on its Deir al-Balah facilities". euronews. 22 July 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  16. ^ Nicholls, Catherine (22 July 2025). "Israeli operation in central Gaza will "invariably" lead to more civilian deaths, UN human rights chief says". CNN. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
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