Israeli tanks have rolled into a previously untouched area of central Gaza, marking the first time ground operations have been conducted in this region during the 21-month conflict. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) did not comment on its operations, but reportedly began with a single brigade’s maneuver in the southern Deir al-Balah area.
The IDF had previously avoided conducting ground operations here due to concerns over endangering surviving hostages. However, Israeli media reports suggest that the military is expanding its activities and operating in areas it has not visited before.
Eyewitnesses describe intense artillery fire and shelling, with witnesses stating they received no prior warning of the tank’s arrival. Many residents were forced to evacuate their homes without belongings, leaving them with nothing but the clothes on their backs.
The United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned that the latest order has further strangled humanitarian access in Gaza, with 87.8% of the area under displacement orders or within Israeli-militarized zones. This has left over two million civilians in a mere 12% of the strip, where essential services have collapsed.
Humanitarian organizations, such as Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), reported that Israeli forces launched a ground and air assault on Monday, leaving the situation “extremely critical.”
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/21/middleeast/israel-military-deir-al-balah-gaza-intl