Operation Gideon’s Chariots: All you need to know about Israel’s biggest military push in Gaza since Oct 2023

This picture taken from a position in southern Israel shows Israeli tanks deployed on the border with the Gaza Strip on May 17, 2025.

The Israeli army last Saturday said it had launched "extensive strikes" in the Gaza Strip – "Operation Gideon's Chariots" – as part of the "initial stages" of a fresh offensive on the besieged Palestinian territory. The announcement came as US President Donald Trump visited the region that included stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, but not Israel.

The strikes were part of "the expansion of the battle in the Gaza Strip, with the goal of achieving all the war's objectives, including the release of the abducted and the defeat of Hamas", Israel's army said in a statement in Arabic on Telegram.

On Monday, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel will "take control" of the whole of Gaza, as the military pressed the newly intensified campaign in the war-ravaged territory.

Israel earlier this month approved plans for the expanded offensive currently under way and said it was aimed at the "conquest" of Gaza and the displacement of its people. "We will not give up. But in order to succeed, we must act in a way that cannot be stopped," said Netanyahu.

Israel has come under mounting pressure, including from key backer the United States, to lift a total blockade it imposed on Gaza more than two months ago.

What is Operation Gideon’s Chariots?

According to The Times of Israel, the latest military offensive in Gaza, named ‘Operation Gideon’s Chariots,’ draws its inspiration from the biblical warrior Gideon.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have outlined several key objectives for the operation:

1. The primary goal of the offensive is to eliminate Hamas' ability to operate militarily and govern within Gaza.

2. Securing the release of Israeli hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, attacks remains a central focus. Of the 57 hostages still held in Gaza, Israel believes up to 23 are alive and has expressed concern about the condition of at least three.

3. The IDF aims to take control of strategic areas within Gaza to prevent Hamas from regrouping and to ensure Israeli security.

4. While conducting military operations, Israel has indicated plans to allow limited humanitarian aid into Gaza to prevent a starvation crisis, with strict measures to prevent Hamas from diverting these resources.

The operation involves a combination of airstrikes and ground assaults targeting Hamas infrastructure, including weapons storage sites, tunnels, and command centers. The IDF has reported the elimination of numerous Hamas operatives and the destruction of key facilities. Ground forces have been deployed in both northern and southern Gaza, aiming to dismantle terrorist networks and secure the area.