From the Liveblog of
Sunday, September 7, 2025
Some 100,000 civilians have evacuated Gaza City amid widening IDF operation, Netanyahu says
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleLazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Around 100,00 civilians have left Gaza City amid a widening military operation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicates at the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem.
After talking about the growing IDF operations in Gaza City, Netanyahu says “about 100,000 people have left Gaza. Hamas is trying to do everything to prevent them from leaving and to keep them there to serve as human shields.”
Netanyahu was referring to Gaza City, not the entire Gaza Strip, the Prime Minister’s Office later tells The Times of Israel.
The IDF has been trying to get civilians in Gaza City to evacuate to the south as troops move closer to the heart of the city.
The UN estimates that around 1 million Palestinians remain in Gaza City.
Hamas has been shooting women and children in the legs to try to prevent their departure, claims Netanyahu.
“We want to focus on the terrorists themselves, and allow the civilian population to get out,” says Netanyahu.
“Our effort in Gaza against the last strongholds – essentially the last important stronghold, Gaza City – is part of our effort to complete the dismantling of the Iranian axis stranglehold,” he says, echoing language he used in 2024 about the southern city of Rafah.
The Times of Israel Community.