Operation Gideon&ap akos Resource Gideon and chariots In May 2025, Israel initiated one of its most ambitious and contentious military operations of recent history, which ended in May 2026: the Operation Gideon and chariots. Presented by Israeli leadership as a clear attempt to eliminate Hamas and free Israeli hostages, the operation has quickly reshaped not only the environment of Gaza Strip but also the entire region. With the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) driving further into Gaza and their operations escalating, concern continues to grow regarding just how secure these moves can make Israel or, on the contrary, whether this is on the eve of an even more destructive war for the region and the further exacerbation of an already devastating humanitarian crisis.
This article discusses the aims, implementation, and consequences of the Operation Gideon Chariots based on the recent statistics, official reports, and the opinions of the involved parties. It also examines the implication of the operation on regional stability considering the possibility of escalation, given the current tension with Iran as well as violence in the West Bank.
The Israel Defense Force has announced the beginning of “extensive” ground operations across Gaza by both the regular army and reservist elements, as part of “Operation Gideon's Chariots” with its primary objectives being the total occupation of the Gaza Strip and the destruction… pic.twitter.com/1NWM0JVnHg
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) May 18, 2025
Operation Gideon – Chariots: Objectives and Execution
Strategic Goals
When the Operation Gideon Chariots was envisaged, there were two primary objectives:
- To utterly eradicate the military, as well as administrative infrastructure of Hamas, in order to make the group unable to exercise its influence in Gaza.
- To obtain the freedom of Israeli captives who are still in possession of Hamas since the October 7, 2023, and attacks.
The Israeli Security Cabinet unanimously authorized the plan on May 4, 2025, which entailed making vast increments in the military actions consisting of mobilizations of tens of thousands of regular and reserve troops, as well as deployment of integrated forces of the land air and sea units.
Operational Details
It started off with a week long air bombardment exercise that attacked more than 670 Hamas affiliated locations and simultaneously launched a parallel ground operation in both northern and southern Gaza. The IDF’s approach has included:
- Striking weapons depots, underground infrastructure, and anti-tank missile launch sites.
- Employing heavy equipment to neutralize explosives and destroy structures identified as terrorist infrastructure.
- Extensive evacuation of Gaza’s civilian population from combat zones, particularly in the north, to facilitate operational freedom and minimize civilian casualties, according to IDF statements.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the intention to take “full control” of the Gaza Strip and maintain a long-term military presence to prevent the resurgence of terrorism.
International Response and Humanitarian Impact
Degradation of Infrastructure and Life of Civilian Theft
The humanitarian cost has been devastating even though the IDF has promised to work towards reducing the casualties of the civilians. By June 2025:
- Over 40,500 Palestinians have been killed, a bigger part of whom are women and children, since the wider conflict started in October 2023.
- The United Nations Human Rights Office compared the offensive with a form of ethnic cleansing and attributed it to the massive destruction of civilian infrastructure economics and forced displacement of the population of Gaza.
- The IDF has introduced a so-called humanitarian closure that limits movement and humanitarian aid, and promised that a future humanitarian plan will split the civilian and Hamas operatives.
International Condemnation
Operation Gideon Chariots has been subjected to a lot of condemnation:
- The operation has been criticized by human rights organizations and the Western governments (and some of Israel’s traditional allies) because of its magnitude and ignorance to the life of civilians.
- The United Nations and other international legal institutions have demanded a ceasefire immediately and are worried that a breach of international law may occur.
- The fallout, diplomatically, has been intense with mounting calls to end the Israeli offensive as Israel is subjected to more and more isolation.
Strategic and Political Calculations
Israeli Government’s Position
The Israeli government maintains that the operation is essential for national security. Prime Minister Netanyahu has stated:
“The fighting is intense and we are making progress. We will take control of all the territory of the Strip. We will not give up. But in order to succeed, we must act in a way that cannot be stopped.”
The IDF has emphasized the need for a “strong protective envelope” for its forces and the importance of maintaining security zones to prevent the return of terrorism.
Critics and Alternative Perspectives
Critics argue that the operation is driven more by short-term political motivations than by a coherent long-term strategy. Some analysts suggest that Netanyahu’s government is using the offensive to maintain political power amid internal turmoil, rather than pursuing a viable resolution to the conflict.
Rather than weakening Hamas, the campaign may have reinforced the group’s status as a symbol of resistance, complicating efforts to achieve lasting peace.
Hamas Response and Escalation Risks
Hamas Counter-Offensive
In response, Hamas has made its own retaliation in the form of a counter-offensive, called Stones of David, which comprises ambushes and minor-scale military campaigns against IDF troops. The group is still keeping 58 Israeli as captives, negotiations have stalled over the release as Hamas wants to get a complete ceasefire in Israel before it will release the captives.
Regional Escalation: The Iran Factor
The operation in Gaza is taking place in the context of continuous hostilities between the countries; these are Israel and Iran. By 2025, what happens is that the IDF has attacked the Iranian targets which include uranium enrichment sites and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has been raining irani 7299 down on Israel with a barrage of missiles.
- More than 40,000 US soldiers have been put on a high alert all over the region in the expectation of more development.
- The Iranian leadership has threatened to offer strong reprisals in case the US or Israel further aggravates the situation.
- Both Russia and Turkey have warned that failure to stop the conflict may result in destabilization of the whole of the Middle East.
The Front in the West Bank
At the same time the IDF has deployed largest military actions in the north west bank in the last 20 years and this has been aimed at such cities as Jenin, Tulkarem and Tubas.
- A total of 11 Palestinians have been killed in a series of recent operations and the number of Palestinians who have been wounded amounts to hundreds.
- Since October 2023, in the West Bank at least 662 Palestinians have been killed and about 5,400 wounded, fanning tensions and further heightening the possibility of a multi-front conflict.
Terrorism Instances in 2025
The year 2025 has seen several notable acts of terrorism and militant violence:
- January 2025: A coordinated attack in southern Israel by militants linked to Hamas resulted in multiple civilian casualties and prompted renewed Israeli airstrikes.
- March 2025: An attempted bombing in Tel Aviv was foiled by Israeli security forces, with the suspects reportedly linked to Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
- May 2025: Hamas launched a series of rocket barrages from Gaza into central Israel, causing significant damage but limited casualties due to Israel’s missile defense systems.
These incidents have reinforced the Israeli government’s narrative that robust military action is necessary to protect its citizens and deter further attacks.
Stakeholder Statements and Perspectives
Israeli Military and Government
- IDF Official Statement:
“A strong protective envelope will be provided for maneuvering forces from land, air, and sea, including the use of heavy tools to neutralize explosives and destroy threatening structures.” - Prime Minister Netanyahu:
“We will take control of all the territory of the Strip. We will not give up. But in order to succeed, we must act in a way that cannot be stopped.”
International Community
- United Nations Human Rights Office:
Condemned the offensive as tantamount to ethnic cleansing, citing the scale of destruction and displacement. - Russia:
Warned that US participation in Israeli strikes on Iran would “radically destabilize” the Middle East. - Turkey’s President Erdogan:
Compared Israeli actions to those of historical oppressors and called for diplomatic solutions.
Palestinian and Regional Voices
- Palestinian Health Ministry:
Continues to report mounting civilian casualties and a deepening humanitarian crisis. - Hamas Leadership:
Maintains that hostages will only be released in exchange for a full Israeli ceasefire, signaling continued resistance
Can the IDF Achieve Security?
The strategies of the IDF are based on the idea that the greatest military force and territorial dominance are able to stop the problem of Hamas. The idea behind obliterating the infrastructure of the group and establishing a long-term presence in Gaza is to discourage future attacks and to establish a shield against regional foes and also to establish a dominant presence in the region by Israel leaders.
Yet, indications to date indicate that this strategy can be self-defeating:
- The ravage caused by destruction of its infrastructure and the thousands of civilians killed has caused bitterness that perhaps could increase radicalization of the Palestinians.
- The fact that Hamas managed to challenge the Israeli Defense Forces and maintain hostages proves that it has not yet been neutralized, in spite of the success of the IDF.
- The operation has not made any breakthrough on the negotiations of hosts held and neither has it brought a viable ceasefire.
Regional War dangers
The danger of raising the stakes is imminent. The continual war with Iran, the likelihood of Hezbollah coming into a front in the north out of Lebanon, and the unrest in the West Bank all serve to put Israel into a likelihood of a multi-front war.
- The movement of the US forces and the threats made by Russia and Turkey point towards the possibility of the conflict spreading outside Gaza and overtaking a bigger region.
- Cyber warfare and economic attacks are already increasing as there have also been cases of hackers attacking Iranian financial resources that they use to finance militant movements.
The incursion of operation Gideon Chariots is considered as a turning section of Israeli policies on security. Although the military capabilities of the IDF leave no doubt, the strategic, humanitarian and diplomatic expenses of the operation are also accumulating. The fact that Gaza is destroyed, civilians are shuffled elsewhere, and the possibility of the further escalation of the situation in the other regions puts a huge question mark over the effectiveness of the current strategy and its sustainability.
Ultimately, true security for Israel cannot be achieved solely through force. Without a parallel diplomatic and humanitarian strategy, Operation Gideon’s Chariots risks entrenching the cycle of violence and pushing the region closer to a wider war—one whose consequences would be devastating for all involved.
