Operation Gideon Chariots: Israel unleashes major military offensive in Gaza to dismantle Hamas, free hostages
Israel has launched a major military operation in a bid to Gaza Strip to pressure Hamas into releasing its remaining hostages, following continuous strikes across the territory, killing hundreds of people.
Titled 'Operation Gideon Chariots' (a Biblical reference), Defence Minister Israel Katz explained that it was being carried out with “great force” by the Israeli army, an Associated Press report said.
This operation has been conducted in line with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's declaration earlier this week to escalate pressure on Hamas, so as to eliminate the militant group that ruled Gaza for nearly two decades.
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Friday saw the culmination of US President Donald Trump's visit to three Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations—Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates—securing millions in investor funding, building ties, and even backing Ahmed al-Sharaa, who will lead Syria's new government.
However, the highly anticipated visit to Israel, which could have led to a possible ceasefire deal in Palestine or the resumption of humanitarian aid to Gaza (currently impeded by an Israel-imposed blockade) did not take place. Notably, it has now been three months since Israel imposed a full blockade on all aid into Gaza, which is highly likely to push it into a terrible famine.
The Israel-Hamas negotiations at Doha, Qatar, have yet to effect real change, with the latter strongly advocating for a deal that would end the three-year-long war, but Israel vehemently refusing to accept it. In that regard, Hamas had even released an Israeli-American hostage as a goodwill gesture ahead of Trump's proposed visit to Israel, but to no avail.
The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) declared in an X post on Saturday that it would be intensifying attacks and exerting “tremendous pressure” across the Gaza Strip until the estimated 20+ hostages were returned and Hamas dismantled.
Later on Saturday, they posted a recap of their activities against terrorist infrastructure in the region, which involved dismantling a “strategic underground terrorist route” measuring roughly two kilometres long, and the confiscation of Hamas' munitions.
More than 150 people have been killed in Israeli strikes in the last 24 hours, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Middle East