Day 676 - IDF lays out projected timeline for capture of Gaza City

7 snips

Aug 12, 2025

Emanuel Fabian, military correspondent for The Times of Israel, joins to discuss the IDF's projected timeline for capturing Gaza City amid strained relations between military and political leaders. He examines allegations by Hamas regarding high Palestinian death tolls, revealing that many had preexisting conditions. The conversation also covers the controversial Israeli airstrike that killed journalist Anas al-Sharif, and how the IDF justifies targeting individuals linked to Hamas. Additionally, Fabian updates on the IDF's ongoing operations in the West Bank.

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INSIGHT

IDF Plans For Gaza City Delayed Until October

The IDF expects a major Gaza City offensive only in October 2025 after civilian evacuation deadlines.
The army will call reserves after finalizing direction and force size.

INSIGHT

COGAT Says Hamas Inflated Starvation Deaths

COGAT used Hamas's own figures and found July's report lacked names and verifiable cases.
COGAT says most identified deaths had preexisting medical conditions rather than clear malnutrition.

INSIGHT

Aid Into Gaza Still Far From 'Flooding'

About 300 aid trucks entered Gaza while the UN says 600 trucks are needed to feed the population.
Airdrops add little and Israel must expand distribution to support evacuations.

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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.

The IDF may take at least another week to gauge how many troops it will need for the government-ordered renewed offensive in Gaza City, military officials said Sunday. This comes as relations between the IDF and the political echelon seem more strained than we’ve previously seen. Fabian weighs in.

This morning, Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) asserted that Hamas has been inflating the toll of Palestinians it says have died of malnutrition, and most of those verified to have died had preexisting medical conditions. Fabian describes how Hamas's own death figures have allowed COGAT to draw its conclusions.

An Israeli strike in Gaza City Sunday night killed a prominent Palestinian journalist for Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera, Anas al-Sharif, whom the Israel Defense Forces has long argued was a Hamas terrorist in charge of rocket launching. Fabian lays out the IDF's case against al-Sharif and discusses his targeting in the context of the larger stated military goal of picking off every asset of the terror group.

On Sunday, Defense Minister Israel Katz said that IDF troops will remain deployed to northern West Bank refugee camps at least until the end of the year, as part of the “Operation Iron Wall” defensive. The operation began in January in the Jenin refugee camp, adjacent to the city of Jenin, and later expanded to include refugee camps near the city of Tulkarem in the western West Bank — the Tulkarem and Nur Shams camps. We learn what's going on there now and what the forecast is.

Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.

For further reading:

IDF assessing how many troops needed for new Gaza offensive as Security Council convenes

Israel says review shows Hamas inflating Gaza hunger data in ‘orchestrated campaign’

Amid global outcry, IDF says Al Jazeera reporter it killed was receiving Hamas salary

IDF strike on Gaza City kills Al Jazeera reporter accused of being a Hamas cell leader

Katz: IDF to remain in north West Bank refugee camps until year’s end at least

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves.

IMAGE: IDF troops operate in the Gaza Strip in an image released by the military on August 11, 2025. (IDF)

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