Worthy Christian News > Israel-Palestinian Conflict > IDF Launches Major Ground Offensive in Gaza as Hostage Talks Continue, Hamas Commanders Reportedly Killed

IDF Launches Major Ground Offensive in Gaza as Hostage Talks Continue, Hamas Commanders Reportedly Killed

By Worthy News Staff

(Worthy News) – The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced Sunday the launch of a new, large-scale ground offensive throughout the Gaza Strip as part of “Operation Gideon’s Chariots,” marking a dramatic escalation in the ongoing war against Hamas.

“Over the past day, IDF troops in the Southern Command, both the standing army and reserves, began a broad ground operation throughout the northern and southern Gaza Strip,” the IDF said in a statement.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, who visited Israeli forces in Gaza on Sunday, emphasized that while the military was pressing forward aggressively, it would also remain flexible to avoid undermining ongoing hostage negotiations in Qatar.

“The directive is clear: Defeat the enemy and destroy its infrastructure wherever we operate,” said Zamir. “The IDF will allow flexibility for the political echelon to advance any hostage deal. A hostage deal — this is not a halt; it is an achievement. We are working toward it.”

Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, IDF spokesperson, added that five divisions are now operating inside Gaza.

“We are entering a new stage in the fighting,” said Defrin. “During the operation, we will increase and expand our operational control in Gaza, while bisecting the Strip and moving the population for its safety in all the areas where we operate.”

He stressed the campaign was being conducted “in full coordination with the [military’s] Hostages and Missing Persons Headquarters.”

“We are doing everything to prevent harm to the hostages. They are always top of mind,” Defrin stated. “The only thing that can stop us is the return of our hostages.”

The IDF confirmed that over 670 Hamas targets had been struck in the past week, including weapons depots, tunnel systems, and anti-tank launchers. The army claimed that dozens of terrorists were killed and strategic ground positions seized.

Hamas Commanders Reportedly Killed

Media outlets in Gaza reported the deaths of two high-ranking Hamas commanders over the weekend. Zakaria Sinwar, brother of Yahya and Muhammad Sinwar, was reportedly killed in an airstrike on a tent in Nuseirat along with three of his children.

Additionally, Saudi outlet Al-Hadath reported that Muhammad Sinwar’s body was found in a tunnel in Khan Younis targeted by Israeli strikes last week, along with the bodies of ten aides.

The IDF has not officially confirmed either death. Another senior figure, Mohammad Shabana, commander of the Rafah Brigade, is also believed to have been killed.

Israel Eyes Long-Term Control

According to a leaked map published by the Sunday Times, the IDF plans to divide Gaza into zones under Israeli military control, separating civilians into narrow corridors with limited movement.

The controversial plan has sparked backlash from international aid agencies, especially with the pending implementation of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a U.S.- and Israel-backed mechanism for aid distribution run by private contractors. Critics say it violates humanitarian principles and contributes to forced displacement.

Looking Ahead

The offensive, launched over 19 months into the war that began with Hamas’s October 7, 2023, massacre and mass kidnapping, appears aimed at maximizing military leverage amid stalled ceasefire negotiations. Israel continues to insist on a limited deal focused on hostage release, while Hamas demands a full Israeli withdrawal.