Israeli forces are operating in the heart of Gaza, according to a report by Amit Segal, approved by censorship, shared at an unspecified time on September 17th, 2025, within the current reporting window. The report stated, "Our forces in the heart of Gaza." This development occurs amidst ongoing Israeli ground operations in Gaza City, which previously saw advances into neighborhoods like Rimal and along Al-Rashid Road between 4:01 AM UTC and 4:46 AM UTC on September 17th, 2025. These operations have reportedly led to connectivity disruptions in Gaza's northern sector, affecting an estimated 400,000 displaced Palestinians. Earlier in the day, Israeli military vehicles were reported to be advancing towards remaining shelter centers in northern Gaza and firing at Kamal Adwan Hospital. The sound of shooting was described as "terrifying" by a source observing the events. Separately, Israeli occupation forces reportedly demolished the remaining structures of the village of Khillet al-Dabaa in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, for the second time, destroying caves, residential tents, a water network, sanitation units, and solar panels. In parallel diplomatic news, Fiji officially opened its embassy in Jerusalem on September 17th, 2025, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in attendance. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized Prime Minister Netanyahu's stance on Jerusalem. Pope Francis reiterated his call for a ceasefire in Gaza. False alarms for suspected drone infiltration were reported in Be'er Ora, southern Israel, around 5:05 AM UTC, attributed by the IDF to false identification. Prime Minister Netanyahu stated earlier that the Israeli economy remains strong and requested a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.
