Israel launches Operation Gideon’s Chariots in Gaza, killing dozens of Hamas terrorists while planning to evacuate civilians in a strategic three-phase assault designed to permanently eliminate the terrorist group’s control.

At a Glance

• Israel has launched a major military offensive called “Gideon’s Chariots” targeting over 670 Hamas sites in Gaza with air and ground operations
• The operation includes three phases: intelligence gathering and airstrikes, civilian evacuation, and ground forces eliminating remaining Hamas terrorists
• Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz emphasized the goal to defeat Hamas and establish permanent occupation of Gaza
• The Trump administration is reportedly considering relocating one million Palestinian civilians to Libya, contingent on Libya’s agreement
• IDF forces have eliminated dozens of terrorists and dismantled both above and below-ground terrorist infrastructure

Three-Phase Military Operation Underway

The Israeli Defense Forces have launched Operation Gideon’s Chariots, a comprehensive military offensive aimed at taking full control of the Gaza Strip and permanently eliminating Hamas as a threat.

The operation involves both regular and reserve soldiers, supported by the Israeli Air Force, which has already conducted strikes on more than 670 Hamas targets throughout Gaza. According to military officials, the strategy employs a three-phase approach designed to minimize civilian casualties while maximizing operational effectiveness against terrorist infrastructure.

The first phase includes intelligence gathering and preliminary airstrikes to disrupt Hamas operations and preparations. This is followed by the systematic evacuation of Gaza’s civilian population to designated safe zones in the southern region, creating cleared operational areas. The final phase involves ground forces moving in to eliminate remaining Hamas fighters and destroying their command centers, weapons caches, and tunnel networks that have been used to stage attacks against Israel.

𝐈𝐃𝐅 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐆𝐚𝐳𝐚 𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 “𝐆𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨𝐧’𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐭𝐬”

Over the past week, the IAF conducted a… pic.twitter.com/3qZq1ngMfH

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) May 18, 2025

Operational Success and Military Progress

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has emphasized the operation’s goal to “act with great force” in defeating Hamas and implementing a permanent occupation model for Gaza. Military spokespersons report that IDF troops have already eliminated dozens of terrorists and dismantled significant terrorist infrastructure both above and below ground. The operation marks a strategic shift from previous military actions, with Israel now committed to establishing lasting security rather than temporary ceasefires that have historically allowed Hamas to regroup and rearm.

The Israeli Air Force has conducted precise airstrikes targeting Hamas command posts, weapons storage facilities, and tunnel entrances. These strikes serve as preparation for ground forces to move in with reduced risk. Military analysts suggest that the operation’s name—referring to the biblical account of Gideon, who defeated a much larger Midianite army through strategic planning and divine intervention—indicates Israel’s confidence in achieving decisive victory despite the operational challenges of urban warfare.

The IDF announces that it has begun "broad" ground operations in several areas of the Gaza Strip, as part of the opening phase of a new major offensive against Hamas dubbed "Operation Gideon's Chariots."

"Over the past day, IDF troops in the Southern Command, both the standing…

— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) May 18, 2025

Diplomatic Efforts and Civilian Considerations

While military operations intensify, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that negotiations continue in Qatar, exploring potential agreements for hostage release and Gaza’s future. These talks run parallel to the military campaign, giving Hamas leaders an opportunity to avoid further military consequences through diplomatic means. The negotiation team is working to “exhaust every possibility for a deal” that would include the release of all hostages, exile of Hamas terrorists, and complete disarmament of Gaza.

“Even at this very moment, the negotiation team in Doha is working to exhaust every possibility for a deal – whether according to the Witkoff framework or as part of ending the fighting, which would include the release of all the hostages, the exile of Hamas terrorists, and the disarmament of the Gaza Strip”, his office states, referring to White House envoy Steve Witkoff.

The Trump administration is reportedly considering an initiative to relocate approximately one million Palestinian civilians to Libya, contingent upon Libya’s agreement and potential release of frozen funds. This proposal represents a significant shift in addressing the humanitarian dimensions of the conflict. Defense analysts note that successful civilian evacuation remains critical to Israel’s operational planning, as it allows military forces to more effectively target Hamas fighters while reducing noncombatant casualties.