The Israeli army has announced that it has launched the first stage of a major offensive – “Gideon’s Chariots” – that is aimed at occupying Gaza.
The Security Cabinet recently unanimously approved the plan for Israel “to conquer Gaza” and hold the territory under its control.
The army said it has “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.”
The statement claimed that the new campaign would “achieve all the goals of the war in Gaza, including the release of the hostages and the defeat of Hamas.”
The operation involves a large-scale military campaign with air, land, and sea forces, including the mobilisation of tens of thousands of reservists.
The plan includes evacuating Gaza’s population (approximately two million people) to a restricted southern zone near Rafah, between the Philadelphi Corridor and Morag Route.
Israel intends to expand and maintain permanent “security zones” along Gaza’s border, reducing Gaza’s territory by several kilometers. These zones, already being cleared, will not be returned to Gaza, aiming to prevent weapons smuggling and protect Israeli communities.
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The IDF plans to maintain a sustained presence in captured areas, with some officials describing this as a shift from temporary incursions to indefinite occupation. Infrastructure deemed a threat will be demolished, and the operation is framed as a “conquest” by some Israeli ministers.
The plan contemplates facilitating “voluntary” emigration of Gazans, particularly from southern areas, aligning with prior U.S. policy suggestions under Trump.
The name “Gideon’s Chariots” (Merkavot Gideon) draws from the biblical warrior Gideon, who defeated the Midianites, evoking themes of divine vengeance. “Merkavot” refers to both biblical chariots and Israel’s Merkava tanks, blending religious and militaristic imagery.
Critics argue this framing casts the operation as a holy war, with some Israeli officials’ rhetoric suggesting ethnic conquest.
Critics, including rights groups and regional powers like Egypt, Qatar, and the EU, condemn the plan as a blueprint for permanent occupation, mass displacement and collective punishment.
During the last three days, which coincided with US President Donald Trump’s regional visit that began Tuesday, Israel killed more than 370 Palestinians, a sharp rise compared to 78 killed in the previous three days, according to Anadolu Agency’s tally based on data from Gaza’s Health Ministry.
The Israeli army has pursued a brutal offensive against Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, killing more than 53,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
