Israeli forces now control more than half of Gaza City, areas named
Israel Defense Forces servicemen (Photo: Getty Images)
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have established operational control over more than half of Gaza City’s territory. Over 800,000 of the city’s one million civilian residents have been evacuated, according to The Jerusalem Post.
Sources in the army’s Southern Command report that the IDF’s territorial gains were the result of coordinated maneuvers at several points by various divisions as part of Operation Gideon’s Chariots II.
Areas of Gaza under IDF control
In recent days, the IDF has expanded the scale of strikes across Gaza, attacking more than 140 targets each night.
At present, the Israeli army controls the following districts of the city:
- Tel al-Hawa, in the southwest of the city, the Israeli army has repeatedly operated in this area from both the air and the ground during the war. However, Hamas has restored its terrorist infrastructure there.
- Al-Nadi – a low-rise area where militants had been hiding from the IDF for years.
- Sheikh Ajleen, on the coast in southwestern Gaza – the IDF has carried out massive air and ground strikes there in recent months against militant strongholds.
- Zeitoun, in the southeast of the city, became a central battle zone at the start of the war and during Operation Gideon’s Chariots I, which began in May 2025.
- Shuja’iya, in eastern Gaza, is the area that saw the highest number of violent crimes committed by Hamas terrorists. It served as a launching ground for numerous militant squads responsible for the mass killings on October 7, and became the site of fierce battles.
- Tuffah, in northeastern Gaza, was at the center of long-term operations aimed at locating and destroying terrorist infrastructure.
Areas of Gaza not under IDF control
At the same time, the Israel Defense Forces have not yet established control over the following areas of Gaza:
- Al-Rimal — home to the local elite and high-ranking Hamas figures.
The neighborhood is considered the heart of the city, since for decades it has housed banking infrastructure, Palestinian government institutions, universities, and media outlets.
- Old City — the historic centre in the heart of Gaza, which terrorists use as a shelter.
In addition, the Israeli army has not yet established control over the Al-Shati refugee camp and the Sabra district.
"In some areas that cannot be detailed, the IDF is imposing a siege, understanding that armed fighters are present. Additionally, the fact that the vast majority of Palestinians have fled Gaza City will make it easier for the IDF to take the city through airstrikes and ground maneuvers," the Jerusalem Post writes.
Israel’s military operation in the Gaza Strip
Since October 2023, the Israel Defense Forces have been conducting a large-scale operation against militants of the Palestinian Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip.
The offensive began after terrorists from the enclave invaded Israeli territory on October 7, 2023.
The goal of the operation is to take control of the region’s territory and destroy the Palestinian group Hamas.
Operation Gideon’s Chariots II officially began on August 20, 2025.
Its objectives are to establish control over Gaza City and the security zone, free Israeli hostages, dismantle Hamas’s infrastructure, create a buffer zone, and ensure the safety of Israel’s border communities.
The main ground offensive on Gaza started after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Israel on September 14.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has prepared a new peace plan for the Gaza Strip. It envisions a complete ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
