Israel has initiated a major military campaign in Gaza, named Operation “Gideon’s Chariots,” with the goal of seizing key positions and asserting operational control over the region.
The offensive, announced shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump’s regional visit failed to produce a ceasefire agreement, marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict.
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the operation seeks to fulfill several wartime objectives, including the rescue of hostages and dismantling Hamas.
“Over the past day, the IDF launched extensive attacks and mobilised forces to seize strategic areas in the Gaza Strip, as part of the opening moves of Operation Gideon's Chariots and the expansion of the campaign in Gaza, to achieve all the goals of the war in Gaza, including the release of the hostages and the defeat of Hamas,” read an official IDF statement.
The military added that Southern Command troops would continue their efforts to ensure the safety of Israeli civilians and achieve the mission’s broader aims.
The intensified assault comes amid mounting humanitarian concerns. Gaza’s civil defense agency reported 100 deaths on Friday alone due to Israeli airstrikes, while the IDF stated it targeted more than 150 Hamas-linked sites within 24 hours. The situation on the ground has deteriorated drastically, with acute shortages of essential resources like food, water, fuel, and medicine. Global aid organizations have called on Israel to end the blockade restricting humanitarian supplies into the territory.
Israel argues that withholding aid is a strategic pressure tactic against Hamas, which continues to detain dozens of hostages captured during its attack on October 7, 2023, according to AFP.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's approach includes pushing Gaza’s population southward while securing more ground in the enclave in an effort to eliminate Hamas completely. This strategy has been widely criticised internationally, with the UN’s human rights chief condemning the renewed military strikes and potential permanent displacement of civilians.
“We're looking at Gaza. And we're going to get that taken care of. A lot of people are starving,” Trump said during his visit to Qatar, acknowledging the worsening humanitarian conditions.
Tensions between Israel and the U.S. appear to be growing. While Trump expressed a desire to halt the “brutal war” and proposed the creation of a “freedom zone” in Gaza, he did not travel to Israel during his Middle East trip. “I have concepts for Gaza that I think are very good, make it a freedom zone, let the United States get involved, and make it just a freedom zone,” he explained in Qatar.
In a notable diplomatic shift, the U.S. has taken independent action by engaging directly with regional militant groups. Hamas recently released an Israeli-American hostage following U.S. mediation, and Houthi forces reportedly agreed to refrain from targeting American vessels in the Red Sea, while continuing their campaign against Israel.
Domestically, Israel is facing internal dissent.
Discontent is rising among military ranks, with thousands of reservists expressing concern over the drawn-out conflict. A collective of retired officers and Air Force veterans have publicly urged the Israeli government to prioritise a hostage-release deal, even if it requires a temporary halt in fighting, according to The Times of Israel.