Here's what's waiting for the IDF in Gaza City

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are mobilizing for a large-scale ground offensive in Gaza City, setting the stage for a historic battle to reclaim the heart of Hamas’ stronghold. Dubbed a return to the infamous "Evil Square", where IDF soldiers once lit a defiant Hanukkah candle amid the ruins, this operation promises to be a high-stakes clash, with tens of thousands of reservists called to action.

In a spine-chilling flashback to December 2023, IDF’s 401st Brigade commander, Lt. Col. Beni Aharon, lit the first Hanukkah candle in Palestine Square, rebranded as "Evil Square," vowing to "illuminate the dark and shadowy Gaza City with the light of purity, goodness, hope, and a dream for Israel." Now, the IDF is back with a vengeance, planning to conquer the city, complete with its towering symbols and deep significance, despite fierce international backlash looming on the horizon.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir has greenlit the "central idea" for this bold assault, with a General Staff meeting approving a plan that includes the ongoing Zeitoun offensive. The IDF is gearing up to mobilize 80,000 to 100,000 reservists under Order 8, but not without controversy, hostage families are in an uproar, pleading, "Don’t endanger our loved ones!" while exhausted reservists voice their frustration. The operation, expected to stretch deep into 2026, will demand precision and power as the IDF targets Hamas’s last senior stronghold, led by the elusive Azz ad-Din Haddad, who’s reportedly altered his appearance to evade capture.

Gaza City, the Strip’s largest urban jungle with up to one million residents, is a battleground of epic proportions. Expert Yohanan Tzur from INSS reveals its past glory as a southern capital, now a maze of high-rises and guerrilla hideouts where Hamas thrives. The city’s rich history, once home to universities and a hub of Palestinian life. has turned into a fortress of terror, with Haddad’s "unique battalion" and Israeli hostages adding a heart-pounding layer of risk. "Any military action here is dangerous for the hostages," warns Fatah’s Samer Sanjalawi, hinting at a potential explosion of resistance and global outrage.

The tension escalates as humanitarian preparations take center stage. The IDF plans to evacuate 800,000 to one million Gaza residents, ensuring food, water, and medical care to avoid a humanitarian crisis that could ignite worldwide condemnation. But the Palestinians are claiming that a "deception operation" has already started. Journalist Youssef Faris alleges the IDF has already begun a siege, with deadly strikes in Zeitoun and Sabra killing six journalists, including Hamas-linked Anas al-Sharif. Mohammed Haniyeh, tied to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, insists, "The occupation started three days ago with intense shelling!", suggesting Israel is masking its moves with staged military-political disputes.

As Cairo and Doha host tense (but hopefully promising) negotiations to free hostages and end the war, the world watches with bated breath. Will this bold IDF thrust conquer "Evil Square" and crush Hamas’s grip, or will it unleash a storm of international fury? And is Israel prepared to pay the steep cost?