Israel declares Gaza’s largest city a combat zone as the bodies of 2
hostages are recovered
[August 29, 2025]
By WAFAA SHURAFA, SAM METZ and JULIA FRANKEL
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel on Friday declared Gaza’s largest
city a dangerous combat zone and said it was in the ″initial stages″ of
a planned offensive that has drawn international condemnation.
Israel's military said it suspended mid-day pauses to fighting, which
had allowed food and aid supplies to enter from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., while
also reporting it had recovered the bodies of two hostages and vowed its
military offensive would return more.
The shift comes weeks after Israel first announced plans to widen its
offensive in Gaza City, where hundreds of thousands of displaced people
are sheltering and enduring famine.
The resumption of around-the-clock fighting is the latest escalation
after Israel reported strikes in some of the city's key neighborhoods
and called up tens of thousands of reservists.
“We will intensify our strikes until we bring back all the kidnapped
hostages and dismantle Hamas,” Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee
said.
Bodies of hostages recovered
Israel on Friday said its military had recovered the bodies of two
hostages, including an Israeli man who was killed in the Oct. 7, 2023,
attack that sparked the war.
The bodies of Ilan Weiss of Kibbutz Be’eri and another unnamed hostage
were returned to Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office
said.
“The campaign to return the hostages continues continuously. We will not
rest or be silent until we return all of our hostages home — both the
living and the dead,” Netanyahu said.
Of the 251 hostages taken by Hamas-led militants almost 22 months ago,
roughly 50 remain in Gaza including 20 that Israel believes to be alive.
Israel's Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which has organized
large-scale protests demanding a ceasefire to return the hostages,
mourned the losses and said Israeli leaders should prioritize a deal to
return both the living and the dead.
“We call on the Israeli government to enter negotiations and stay at the
table until every last hostage comes home. Time is running out for the
hostages. Time is running out for the people of Israel who carry this
burden,” it said in a statement.
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‘Initial stages’ of Gaza City offensive begin
Israel introduced “tactical pauses” in Gaza City, Deir al-Balah and
Muwasi last month as it faced global condemnation over the
humanitarian conditions in the besieged strip. As it suspended them
on Friday in Gaza City, the military did not say whether they had
notified residents or aid groups of the impending declaration ahead
of the 11:30 a.m. announcement.
Israel has in the past called Gaza City a Hamas stronghold, with a
network of tunnels that remain in use by militants after several
previous large-scale raids.
The city also is home to some of the territory’s critical
infrastructure and health facilities. The United Nations said
Thursday the besieged strip could lose half of its hospital bed
capacity if Israel invades as planned.
The suspension of the pause also comes one week after the world’s
leading food security authority declared Gaza City was being gripped
by famine after months of warnings.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, said
hunger has been driven by fighting and Israel's blockade on the
majority of aid and magnified by widespread displacement and the
collapse of food production.
Norwegian Refugee Council, which coordinates a coalition of aid
groups active in Gaza, said Israel's preparation for its large-scale
ground offensive has made deliveries challenging.
“We have faced unprecedented access and movement restrictions,”
spokesperson Shaina Low said Friday. “Intensified military
operations are going to further hinder our ability respond.”
UNRWA, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, said the looming
offensive could further displace 1 million people, including many
who were previously displaced.
“Any further escalation would deepen suffering and push more people
toward catastrophe,” the agency said in a post on X.
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