Hamas has moved hostages above ground to use them as ‘human shields’ ahead of Israel‘s expected ground offensive in Gaza, according to local media.
Residents of Gaza City – home to roughly one million Palestinians – have been bracing for an onslaught since the Israeli government announced plans to deal Hamas a decisive blow in what it says are the militant group’s remaining strongholds.
The IDF has issued evacuation orders for large sections of the besieged enclave. But reports say Hamas is attempting to keep residents in the northern Gaza Strip and block their escape.
Palestinian sources claim some hostages are being held in houses, while others are in tents.
Earlier, Merav, the mother of hostage Guy Gilboa-Dalal, revealed in an interview with Galei Tzahal that her son is being held alone above ground in Gaza and is being used as a ‘human shield.’
‘I was informed that Guy is being held alone above ground in Gaza, serving as a human shield,’ she said.
‘Don’t try to question me further – there are many things I want to say, but I’m holding back out of concern for my son’s safety. When he comes home, maybe I’ll scream louder, maybe I’ll shake things up more.’
Kan News reported that Hamas is preparing a so-called ‘legitimacy ambush’ in Gaza City. This strategy aims to exploit civilian casualties to increase international pressure on Israel to halt its ground operation.
Hamas has moved hostages above ground to use them as human shields ahead of Israel ‘s ground offensive in Gaza , according to local media. Pictured: Smoke rises from the Islamic University building, which was evacuated and was housing displaced Palestinians, after it was hit by Israeli air strikes, in Gaza City, September 14, 2025
Ahead of a looming ground operation, the IDF has issued evacuation orders for large sections of the city but Hamas is working to keep residents in the northern Gaza Strip and block their escape, reports say
Smoke rises following Israeli airstrikes that hit and destroyed multiple buildings and high-rise towers in Gaza City, Gaza on September 14, 2025
The group has used threats, media campaigns urging residents to remain in their homes, and violence against those trying to leave, including threats of execution.
One report stated that Hamas has appointed several senior commanders to oversee the fighting on the ground.
According to Arab sources, the four senior figures are: Az al-Din Haddad, head of the military wing; Raed Saad, head of the operations division; Mohammed Odeh, head of intelligence; Mahanad Rajab, a senior figure in Hamas’ military wing in the Gaza Brigade, from a clan strongly affiliated with Hamas and based in both Shejaiya and Tuffah.
The IDF has stepped up strikes on Gaza City in recent days, hitting more than 500 military targets, including high-rise buildings converted into Hamas infrastructure.
Civilians in areas such as the Gaza Port and southern al-Rimal were ordered to evacuate and instructed to head south, toward designated humanitarian zones including Khan Yunis and al-Mawasi.
According to UN estimates cited in Israeli reports, more than 280,000 Gazans have already fled Gaza City following these warnings.
Despite the evacuations, Hamas has tried to keep as many civilians in place as possible.
The Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories said Hamas officials are trying to flee Gaza while urging residents to stay behind, as an effort to use civilians as human shields in advance of the IDF’s entry into the city.
It comes after the IDF destroyed at least 30 residential buildings in Gaza and forced thousands of people from their homes, Palestinian officials said, as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived on Sunday to discuss the future of the conflict.
Israel has said it plans to seize the city, where about a million Palestinians have been sheltering, as part of its declared aim of eliminating the militant group Hamas, and has intensified attacks on what it has called Hamas’ last bastion.
The group’s political leadership, which has engaged in on-and-off negotiations on a possible ceasefire and hostage release deal, was targeted by Israel in an airstrike in Doha on Tuesday in an attack that drew widespread condemnation.
Qatar will host an emergency Arab-Islamic summit on Monday to discuss the next moves. Rubio said Washington wanted to talk about how to free the 48 hostages – of whom 20 are believed to be still alive – still held by Hamas in Gaza and rebuild the coastal strip.
‘What’s happened, has happened,’ he said. ‘We’re gonna meet with them (the Israeli leadership). We’re gonna talk about what the future holds,’ Rubio said before heading to Israel where he will stay until Tuesday.
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