|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Friday the commencement of Operation ‘Gideon’s Chariots’, marking a significant escalation in their military campaign in the Gaza Strip.
The operation involves extensive airstrikes and ground troop deployments aimed at seizing control over key areas in Gaza and defeating Hamas.
According to an official IDF statement, the operation’s core objectives are to rescue hostages held by Hamas and to dismantle the terror infrastructure within Gaza.
The military declared that forces were deployed to capture swaths of territory, including major urban centers, signaling a shift from previous tactics that focused mainly on raids and withdrawals.
The Jerusalem Post reported that the IDF, in coordination with the Shin Bet intelligence agency, targeted over 150 terror sites in Gaza on Friday alone.
The Israeli Air Force (IAF) intensified its bombardments, carrying out approximately 60 airstrikes since Friday morning, with bombs reportedly falling every four minutes, according to the Maariv newspaper.
Overnight strikes hit northern Gaza’s Beit Lahiya and Jabalya neighborhoods heavily, while tanks advanced towards the Al-Salateen area in western Beit Lahiya, where civilian homes were reportedly destroyed, according to local residents speaking to the BBC.
Ahead of the offensive, the IDF conducted mass evacuations of northern Gaza civilians. Leaflets dropped over Gaza warned residents to evacuate immediately southwards due to the high-risk combat zones. Neighboring border communities reported hearing intense explosions throughout the day.
The IDF has reportedly encircled Jabalia and the Jabalia refugee camp, further tightening its control over northern Gaza. The military’s latest wave of airstrikes surpasses the intensity of attacks witnessed in October 2023, during the first major ground maneuver.
UN Condemns Operation, Accuses Israel of Violating International Law
The expanded military campaign has drawn sharp criticism from the United Nations. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk condemned the bombardment and restrictions on humanitarian aid, warning it amounted to “a push for a permanent demographic shift in Gaza tantamount to ethnic cleansing.”
Turk stressed that even if Israel’s strikes were aimed at Hamas command centers, international law requires “constant care” to protect civilians — a standard he said was not being met.
Jeremy Laurence, a UN human rights spokesperson, called on the international community to “stop the clock on this madness now,” underscoring the binding nature of the Geneva Conventions and international human rights laws that all parties must respect. He warned that violations must be met with accountability.
Political Controversy and War Duration Expectations
Operation Gideon’s Chariots has sparked debate within Israeli political circles. Opposition lawmakers accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of presenting unclear and overly optimistic war goals, calling for greater transparency about the operation’s progress.
Netanyahu had previously outlined a vision of full IDF control over Gaza, forced southward displacement of residents, and a blockade on Hamas’s ability to distribute humanitarian aid.
Reports suggest the war will continue well into 2025, with the military facing manpower shortages, reportedly needing an additional 10,000 soldiers.
The operation was reportedly postponed until after former US President Donald Trump’s diplomatic visit to the Middle East, highlighting the geopolitical sensitivities involved.
The IDF has vowed to remain in captured areas to prevent the resurgence of terror activity, adopting what officials call the “Rafah model”, where all threats were neutralized and the area secured as a buffer zone.
As the operation unfolds, the humanitarian cost continues to rise, with Palestinian officials reporting dozens of casualties from Friday’s strikes. The situation remains fluid, with escalating military action raising concerns about a prolonged and devastating conflict.