Day 717 - IDF says half of Gaza City emptied as troops roll in
The Times of Israel Daily Briefing
The Times of Israel
4.5 • 1.1K Ratings
🗓️ 22 September 2025
⏱️ 20 minutes
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Summary
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.
Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.
More than half of the estimated one million Palestinians residing in Gaza City have evacuated to the Strip’s south, the military said Sunday, as Israeli troops moved deeper into the city amid an expanding offensive against Hamas in the area. We learn about IDF efforts on the ground.
IDF spokesperson Effie Defrin voiced frustrations about the lack of cooperation from international humanitarian organizations yesterday, saying, “At Kerem Shalom crossing, thousands of tents and supplies are waiting right now for collection by the UN and international organizations." He further said that Hamas is a major obstacle to distribution. We ask Fabian whether the IDF would consider becoming the point of aid distribution in the Strip.
The IDF will bolster its presence in the West Bank with eight additional companies during the Jewish holiday season in light of heightened security risks. Fabian compares the troop deployment to that of October 6, 2023, saying that with the additional troops in place, the Judea and Samaria Division will be staffed by the equivalent of 23 battalions.
An Israeli drone strike killed five people, including a father and his three children, in the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil on Sunday. Fabian explains what we currently know about how bystanders were killed as a Hezbollah operative was neutralized.
Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.
For further reading:
UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal announce recognition of Palestinian state; PM: Won’t happen
IDF troops push deeper into Gaza City, as half a million residents said to have left
Two rockets fired at Ashdod; IDF says ‘many’ Hamas fighters killed in Gaza City push
In southern Gaza, new anti-Hamas enclave emerges under militia claiming Israeli backing
IDF to deploy reinforcements in West Bank in preparation for Jewish holiday season
IDF investigating after strike on Hezbollah operative also kills 4 Lebanese civilians
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IMAGE: IDF forces operate in the Gaza Strip, September 22, 2025. (IDF)
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Welcome to the Times of Israel's daily briefing. |
| 0:09.1 | Today's Monday, September 22nd, Day 717 of the war. |
| 0:14.9 | Amanda Barshall Dan here with our military correspondent, Emmanuel Fabian. |
| 0:18.7 | Hi, Manny. |
| 0:19.2 | Thanks for joining me for this final daily briefing of the Jewish year. |
| 0:24.6 | Amanda and Shenatova. |
| 0:26.1 | Shenatova. |
| 0:27.6 | Yesterday, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Portugal all announced their formal |
| 0:33.5 | recognition of a Palestinian state, joining some 150 other United Nations countries in this |
| 0:40.1 | recognition. The United States called the recognition by several of its key allies, quote-unquote, |
| 0:46.5 | performative. Our focus remains on serious diplomacy, not performative gestures. Our priorities are |
| 0:53.5 | clear, the release of the hostages, |
| 0:55.7 | the security of Israel, and peace and prosperity for the entire region that is only possible free |
| 1:01.7 | from Hamas, said a U.S. State Department spokesperson. So today, Manny and I will focus on what |
| 1:08.4 | is happening on the ground in Gaza and precautionary steps taken in the West Bank for the holiday. |
| 1:14.7 | All of this and more when we're back. |
| 1:25.1 | I'm Amanda Borschelle Dan here with our military correspondent Emmanuel Fabian. |
| 1:30.1 | More than half of the estimated 1 million Palestinians residing in Gaza's city have evacuated |
| 1:36.1 | to the Strip South, the military said yesterday, as Israeli troops move deeper into the city |
| 1:42.2 | amid an expanding offensive against Hamas in the area. Before the |
| 1:47.3 | operation truly picks up, however, the people need to empty eight. So let's start with that, |
| 1:52.6 | Manny. Are certain neighborhoods completely emptying out, or is it more of a trickle effect through |
... |
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