Hamas is making ready a so-called “legitimacy ambush” in Gaza Metropolis, aiming to use civilian casualties to extend worldwide stress on Israel to halt its offensive.
Hamas has begun shifting some hostages above floor within the Gaza Strip in an try and hinder the IDF’s floor operations in Gaza Metropolis, Kan Information reported Monday morning.
Palestinian sources stated that some hostages are being held in homes whereas others are in tents.
Kan Information additionally reported that Hamas is making ready a so-called “legitimacy ambush” in Gaza Metropolis. This technique goals to use civilian casualties to extend worldwide stress on Israel to halt its offensive.
In response to the report, Hamas is working to maintain residents within the northern Gaza Strip and block their evacuation southward. The group has used threats, media campaigns urging residents to stay of their properties, and violence towards these making an attempt to depart, together with threats of execution.
Gaza Metropolis underneath rising stress
The IDF has stepped up strikes on Gaza Metropolis in current days, hitting greater than 500 navy targets, together with high-rise buildings transformed into Hamas infrastructure. Among the many targets have been places of work used for intelligence and surveillance, in addition to commentary posts embedded in civilian neighborhoods.
Smoke rises from an evacuated residential constructing which was housing displaced Palestinians, after it was hit by an Israeli air strike, in Gaza Metropolis, September 14, 2025. (credit score: REUTERS/Ebrahim Hajjaj)
Forward of a looming floor operation, the military has issued evacuation orders for giant sections of the town. Civilians in areas such because the Gaza Port and southern al-Rimal have been instructed to move south, towards designated humanitarian zones together with Khan Yunis and al-Mawasi. In response to UN estimates cited in Israeli studies, greater than 280,000 Gazans have already fled Gaza Metropolis following these warnings.
Regardless of the evacuations, Hamas has sought to maintain as many civilians in place as potential. The Coordination of Authorities Actions within the Territories stated Hamas officers try to flee Gaza whereas urging residents to remain behind, as an effort to make use of civilians as human shields prematurely of the IDF’s entry into the town.
Commanders appointed
On Sunday night time, Kan Information stated that Hamas appointed a number of senior commanders to supervise preventing on the bottom. In response to Palestinian sources, the 4 figures are Izz al-Din Haddad, head of the navy wing; Raed Saad, head of the operations division; Muhammad Odeh, head of intelligence; and Mohand Rajab, a senior commander within the Gaza Brigade. Rajab is from a household lengthy affiliated with Hamas and primarily based in each Shujaiya and Tuffah.
