IDF Launches Ground Operations in Deir al-Balah Amid Escalating Regional Tensions

by Worthy News Jerusalem Bureau Staff

(Worthy News) – The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced Sunday it will begin ground operations in Deir al-Balah for the first time since the start of the Gaza conflict, expanding its military campaign into one of the last remaining areas of the Strip untouched by ground forces. The move comes with a new evacuation warning to civilians in the southwest of the city, directing them to seek refuge in the overcrowded coastal zone of al-Mawasi.

Col. Avichay Adraee, the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesperson, said on X, “The IDF continues to operate with great force to destroy the enemy’s capabilities and terror infrastructure in the area, as it expands its activities into an area where it has not operated before.”

The city of Deir al-Balah has remained relatively intact until now, as the IDF had avoided the area due to intelligence suggesting Hamas was holding Israeli hostages there. A previous hostage release in February—featuring three Israeli captives freed in a publicized ceremony by Hamas—sparked public outrage and increased pressure on Israeli leadership. Hamas has previously warned it would execute hostages if Israeli ground troops advanced into areas where captives were being held.

The expansion into Deir al-Balah comes amid ongoing ceasefire negotiations in Qatar, which Israeli officials accuse Hamas of deliberately stalling. Meanwhile, domestic pressure is mounting in Israel, with thousands gathering in Tel Aviv Saturday night demanding immediate action for the release of hostages still in Gaza.

The humanitarian situation in Deir al-Balah is already dire. The relatively low intensity of fighting in the area had made it a destination for refugees fleeing other parts of the Strip, and most buildings remain intact. IDF estimates from May suggested around 350,000 Palestinians reside in central Gaza, though it remains unclear how many are currently in the newly targeted zone.

In a related regional development, Syria’s Council of Tribes and Clans announced Saturday the full withdrawal of Bedouin fighters from Suwayda after days of deadly violence involving Druze militias, tribal forces, and Syrian government troops. Hundreds were reportedly killed in the flare-up, which drew condemnation from Israel’s Druze community and calls for Israeli intervention to defend their brethren across the border.

“We affirm that any violation of the agreement will be met with a harsh response,” said council head Abdul-Moneim al-Nassif, following the announcement of a ceasefire by Syria’s interior ministry.

With military operations intensifying in Gaza and regional tribal tensions still simmering, the potential for broader conflict remains high—even as diplomatic efforts in Qatar and elsewhere struggle to take hold.

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