ALBAWABA - The Israeli military began "Operation Gideon's Chariots" on Saturday morning with a massive ground invasion in Gaza, an operation that Israeli officials claim intends to take complete control of the Gaza Strip. Hours after U.S. President Donald Trump wrapped up his regional tour, the operation was made public.
While stepping up its bombing of locations like Beit Lahia and the Jabalia refugee camp, the Israeli army ordered inhabitants in northern Gaza to go south. According to reports, ground troops, including tanks and armored vehicles, started to approach Khan Younis.
The Israeli army used a Quranic text that alludes to divine assistance during the Exodus in a message that was shared on social media and distributed through leaflets dropped over Gaza. The message concluded, "People of Gaza, the Israeli army is coming."
As the death toll rises, the health system collapses.
In the past 24 hours, 153 Palestinians have been killed and 459 injured, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health, marking a dramatic rise in casualties since Thursday. Due to ongoing Israeli bombardment, almost all of Gaza's major hospitals, including those in Europe and Indonesia, have suspended operations. At the moment, Al-Awda Hospital is being heavily bombarded.
Phases of Operations and Military Goals
Over the course of several months, the offensive is anticipated to develop in three stages, according to Israeli public broadcaster KAN:
- Phase 1: The decision to organize forces and extend the fight.
- Phase 2: Increased ground and aerial bombardment, along with the forcible migration of Gaza's northern population southward.
- Phase 3: A slow ground invasion with the goals of destroying the subterranean tunnel networks, completely occupying the area, and demolishing Hamas's infrastructure.
According to Yedioth Ahronoth, the operation aims to eradicate Hamas's authority and stop its comeback by allowing the Israeli military to stay in any territory it seizes.
Humanitarian collapse and international condemnation
Following months of siege and airstrikes that have destroyed Gaza's infrastructure, there has been a military escalation. Israel is allegedly blocking all humanitarian help since March 2, which has exacerbated the situation and caused it to spiral into starvation, according to international organizations.
Israel's activities were denounced by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Friday, who warned that they would amount to "ethnic cleansing" through permanent displacement. The Council of Europe echoed the alarm, claiming that "deliberate starvation" was to blame for the situation in Gaza.
According to the Gaza Government Media Office, famine is swiftly spreading throughout the region, and at least 57 deaths—mostly of children—from starvation and malnutrition have been verified. Additionally, it noted that the number of deaths from illness was on the rise and that basic food supplies had completely vanished from marketplaces and help delivery facilities.
Regional Background
President Trump's four-day Middle East journey comes to an end with the start of the Israeli operation. The onslaught on Saturday is an important turning point that could jeopardize continuing mediation efforts in Doha aimed at negotiating a ceasefire and prisoner exchange, despite Trump's indication that "positive developments" were anticipated shortly in Gaza.
In addition to posing grave ethical and legal questions regarding the conduct and goals of the Israeli military campaign, "Operation Gideon's Chariots" threatens to plunge Gaza into an even worse tragedy in the face of mounting worldwide indignation and a crumbling humanitarian situation.
