A senior Israeli official involved in discussions leading up to recent operations revealed on September 16th, 2025, that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's orders demonstrated his mindset of being a "regional bully" whose next move is unpredictable. This statement comes a week after alleged Israeli missile strikes in Qatar, which Barak Ravid of Axios reported failed to assassinate Hamas leaders and "backfired." The IDF continues intensified operations in Gaza City, designated as Hamas's central military and governing hub, as part of Operation Gideon B. Over the past week, the Israeli Air Force has conducted strikes on more than 850 targets in the city, with the IDF estimating the presence of 2,000-2,500 skilled terrorists and several thousand recruited teenagers. The commander of the Southern Command, Gen. Yaniv Asor, has confirmed the operation's second phase aims at conquering Gaza City, with the IDF targeting control of over 90% of Gaza City areas within the next ten days. Prime Minister Netanyahu also stated on September 16th, 2025, that he never believed Qatar was neutral in the conflict, according to Amit Segal. Netanyahu has requested a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington for late October, following the United Nations General Assembly. In separate but related developments, Israeli security forces conducted an operation in Qalqilya in the northern West Bank between 1:48 PM and 2:02 PM UTC on September 16th, 2025, resulting in the deaths of two Palestinian gunmen and the arrest of two others. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported 428 deaths attributed to famine and malnutrition in Gaza as of September 16th, 2025, including 146 children. Former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot announced the formation of his new political party, "Straight! With Eisenkot," on September 16th, 2025, with polls suggesting it could win between 6 and 12 Knesset seats. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has criticized the situation in Gaza City as a "systematic destruction" and deemed the war "unacceptable morally, politically and legally."
