Israel’s military has announced the start of a large-scale operation aimed at defeating Hamas and securing the release of remaining hostages held in Gaza. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) revealed on their Hebrew X account that troops have been mobilized for “Operation Gideon’s Chariots,” targeting strategic areas across the Gaza Strip.
The offensive comes amid escalating violence, with Hamas-run civil defense authorities reporting that Israeli strikes have killed around 250 people since Thursday. Reuters news agency cited local officials confirming at least 58 Palestinians died in overnight airstrikes.
Since March, Israel has maintained a strict aid blockade on Gaza following the collapse of a two-month ceasefire. US President Donald Trump commented on the humanitarian situation, stating on Friday that “a lot of people were starving” in the territory.
Though the IDF’s English-language social media accounts have not mentioned the operation by name, they emphasized that military action will continue “until Hamas is no longer a threat and all our hostages are home.” The Israeli military claimed to have struck over 150 terror targets in the past 24 hours.
As the offensive intensifies, Israel has deployed armored units along the Gaza border and increased bombardments despite mounting international calls to renew ceasefire talks and lift the blockade.
The Times of Israel reported that the operation, named after a biblical warrior, involves seizing and controlling Gaza territory, relocating civilians to the south, attacking Hamas fighters, and preventing the group from controlling humanitarian aid supplies.
Thousands of Israeli soldiers and reservists are expected to enter Gaza as the operation escalates in the coming days. Meanwhile, residents in northern and central Gaza have been ordered to evacuate their homes—though aid workers warn that many have already been displaced multiple times and face severe challenges relocating.
There remain faint hopes for a ceasefire, with indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas ongoing in Qatar. Earlier this month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced preparations for an “intense entry into Gaza” to capture and hold territory, with plans reportedly delayed until after Trump’s recent Middle East visit.
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk criticized the escalation, warning it may violate international law. He said the bombardment, forced population movements, destruction of neighborhoods, and blockade resembled efforts toward a “permanent demographic shift” amounting to ethnic cleansing.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed concern over the situation. On the ground, British surgeon Victoria Rose described dire conditions at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, with malnourished children suffering from burns and infections amid exhaustion among medical staff.
A recent UN-backed report highlighted Gaza’s population is at “critical risk” of famine, though the Israeli government denies there is a food shortage.
The current military campaign was launched in response to Hamas’s October 7, 2023, cross-border attack, which killed about 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages. Hamas continues to hold 58 hostages. Since the conflict began, Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry reports at least 53,000 deaths in the territory.
