IDF soldiers reported that speakers were placed inside Gaza to broadcast Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's UN speech to Gaza residents, a move criticized by parents of soldiers and IDF officers as a "publicity stunt" that needlessly endangered troops between 12:35 PM and 1:07 PM UTC on September 26th, 2025. According to reports from N12 News and Ynet, the Prime Minister's order required forces to move deeper into Gaza and closer to Palestinian areas, exposing them to higher risk without operational justification. This development comes as the Prime Minister's Office stated speakers would only be placed on the Gaza border. Sources indicate that IDF forces stopped actual operational activity in Gaza to reassign personnel for positioning the speakers, as reported by Ynet. Some commanders reportedly instructed troops not to venture too deep, placing the speakers in areas where Gaza residents might not be able to hear them. The Prime Minister's Office, however, maintained that the speakers would be placed on the Gaza border, not inside hostile territory. The controversy arises as Prime Minister Netanyahu's UN speech was intended to be broadcast into Gaza. Previous reports indicated that the Prime Minister's Office had ordered the IDF to implement such a broadcast via cellular network and loudspeakers. The initiative had reportedly drawn criticism from families of hostages and soldiers for potentially endangering troops. Earlier on September 26th, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) had issued immediate evacuation orders for residents near a building in Gaza City's Rimal area, citing its alleged use by Hamas as part of preparations for imminent strikes on Hamas infrastructure in the Gaza Port area and Al-Remal neighborhood.
