Israel Opens Temporary Corridor for Gaza Civilians Amid Intensified Ground Offensive

Jerusalem/Gaza, September 17, 2025 – Israel announced Wednesday that it had opened a “temporary transportation route” to allow civilians to flee Gaza City, even as its forces pressed deeper into the enclave in a major ground offensive following weeks of heavy bombardment.

Military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said the corridor, running along Salah al-Din Street, would remain open for 48 hours, urging residents to use the passage to move south.

The announcement came as Israeli troops officially entered Gaza City, intensifying operations against what Israel describes as the stronghold of Hamas fighters. The ground offensive, launched Tuesday, has seen forces advance block by block through the territory’s largest urban centre. Vast swathes of the city lie in ruins, and while tens of thousands have fled in vehicles piled with belongings, hundreds of thousands remain trapped.

Israel has not offered a timeline for the campaign, stating only that its objective is to “destroy Hamas’ military infrastructure.” Local media reports suggest the operation could extend for months.

The push coincided with the release of a UN Human Rights Council report accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza — an allegation Israel dismissed as “distorted and false.” Defence Minister Israel Katz declared, “Gaza is burning,” as heavy overnight strikes pounded the city.

Scenes along Gaza’s coastal road reflected the desperation of residents attempting to escape: long convoys of cars and trucks laden with mattresses and supplies, alongside families forced to walk on foot.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on a brief regional visit, warned that there was a “very short window of time in which a deal can happen” to halt a conflict that has destabilised the Middle East for nearly two years.