Gaza in flames: Israel refuses to retreat until Hamas defeated
Photo: Israel explains the goal of its Gaza offensive (Getty Images)
The main objectives of the Israel Defense Forces’ operation in Gaza City are to create the conditions for freeing the hostages and to destroy Hamas, states Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz.
"Gaza is burning. The IDF strikes with an iron fist at the terrorist infrastructure, and IDF soldiers are fighting bravely to create the conditions for the release of the hostages and the defeat of Hamas. We will not relent and we will not go back - until the completion of the mission," emphasized Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz.
Why Israel launched the operation
On Monday, the Israel Defense Forces launched a ground military operation to take full control of Gaza. First, the Israeli Air Force carried out massive airstrikes on the city, after which tanks entered populated areas.
Later, it was reported that families of hostages in Jerusalem protested the IDF operation outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence.
Netanyahu’s government says the operation in the Gaza Strip and Gaza City is aimed at the destruction of the Palestinian group Hamas after the large-scale Islamist incursion into Israel on October 7, 2023.
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that on August 20, 2025, the Israeli Ministry of Defense approved the plan to seize Gaza City called "Gideon’s Chariots II." The operation involves five divisions of the Israel Defense Forces and tens of thousands of servicemembers. Its mission is the destruction of Hamas.
One reason for that decision was the failure of negotiations between Israel and Hamas over a ceasefire and a hostage exchange.
