Israeli troops push deeper into northern Gaza

Israeli troops moved into the northern Gaza neighborhood of Shejaia on Friday, expanding what the military described as a “security zone” along the edge of the enclave.

The operation marks a continuation of Israel’s renewed ground campaign, following this week’s announcement of plans to seize large areas of southern Gaza in a broader strategic push.

According to a statement from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), soldiers are conducting operations in Shejaia, a densely populated suburb east of Gaza City, as part of an effort to prevent militant groups from regrouping near the border.

The IDF said organized evacuation routes had been established to allow civilians to leave the combat zone safely.

“Our forces are operating with precision in Shejaia to deepen the security buffer and ensure terrorist infrastructure cannot be re-established,” the military said, without providing details on the size or scope of the operation.

The move comes days after Israeli authorities declared plans to take control of significant portions of Gaza’s southern region, raising fears of prolonged occupation and further displacement of Palestinians already facing dire humanitarian conditions.

Shejaia, a neighborhood previously devastated in earlier stages of the conflict, had seen residents slowly returning in recent months. Friday’s incursion triggered a fresh wave of evacuations, with local witnesses reporting heavy gunfire and tank movement overnight.

Gaza’s Health Ministry, which operates under Hamas authorities, said medical services in the area were severely disrupted, and that casualties were expected to rise as fighting continued.

International aid groups expressed concern over the latest military advance, warning that repeated displacements and restricted humanitarian access were pushing Gaza’s civilian population to the brink.

“The cycle of evacuation and return is creating unimaginable suffering,” said a spokesperson for Doctors Without Borders. “Civilians are being squeezed between frontlines with nowhere safe to go.”

The Israeli government has defended its operations as necessary for national security following months of cross-border attacks and ongoing threats from Hamas and allied militant groups. Officials have signaled that operations in both northern and southern Gaza may continue for weeks.

As Israeli troops tighten their hold in Shejaia and prepare for a deeper incursion into southern Gaza, the humanitarian situation across the territory remains critical, with more than 80% of the population displaced and essential services on the verge of collapse.