Israel Tightens Siege on Gaza City Amid Hamas Review of Trump's Peace Plan

Fri Oct 03 2025 01:57:22 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

As Israel intensifies its military operations in Gaza City, military officials declare tightened control over borders, while Hamas weighs a new peace proposal from the U.S. amidst escalating humanitarian concerns.

Israel's defense minister has announced the tightening of the siege around Gaza City, increasing military efforts against Hamas as the Palestinian group contemplates a peace plan proposed by Donald Trump. Hospitals in Gaza report civilian casualties amid heightened tensions, and the International Committee of the Red Cross suspends operations due to safety concerns. Arab and Turkish mediators push for negotiations while warnings to evacuate intensify from Israeli military officials. Meanwhile, humanitarian organizations emphasize the need to protect civilians in conflict.

Israel's defense minister has said its forces are tightening the siege around Gaza City by extending its control of a military corridor across the territory towards the coast.

Isael Katz also issued a final warning to the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the city to evacuate southwards, saying those who remained during the offensive against Hamas would be terrorists and supporters of terror.

Hospitals reported that 45 people had been killed by Israeli fire in Gaza City on Wednesday, while the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it had been forced it to suspend operations there.

Israel is stepping up the assault as Hamas weighs its response to US President Donald Trump's new plan to end the war.

Arab and Turkish mediators are understood to be pressing for a positive response, but a senior Hamas figure has said the group is likely to reject it.

The IDF has described Gaza City as Hamas's last stronghold and said the offensive aims to secure the release of the 48 hostages still held by Hamas - 20 of whom are believed to be alive - and ensure the Palestinian armed group's decisive defeat.

Israel's defense minister indicated that the IDF is currently completing the capture of the Netzarim corridor to the western coast of Gaza, aiming to tighten restrictions around Gaza City.

Katz warned that this was the last chance for Gaza [City] residents who are interested in moving south and leaving Hamas terrorists isolated in Gaza City itself in the face of IDF activity that continues at full strength.

On the humanitarian side, the ICRC stated that under international humanitarian law, civilians must be protected whether they stay or leave Gaza City. It insisted that Israel has a duty to ensure basic needs are met for both civilians and medical personnel while allowing rapid humanitarian assistance.

After an Israeli strike hit a school shelter for displaced families, Gaza's Hamas-run Civil Defence agency reported casualties among both civilians and emergency responders, including the death of one of their members.

Israeli military claims of targeting Hamas operatives have been met with international scrutiny, questioning the ethicality of their operations amidst civilian evacuations.

Many families express their dire conditions, unable to afford evacuations or seeking refuge from repeated displacements, as the situation in Gaza City grows increasingly dire.

The Israeli government justified the offensive's initiation post breakdown of talks surrounding a ceasefire that would have involved hostage releases, while shoes of discontent grow in Hamas circles regarding the new Trump peace plan, which they perceive as favoring Israeli interests.