The army said in an official statement that over the past day it had begun "launching extensive strikes and moving forces to seize territory within the Gaza Strip," adding that this was part of the implementation phases of Operation Gideon, which was approved by the security cabinet in early May. This campaign follows the call-up of tens of thousands of reserve soldiers, a move aimed at achieving comprehensive change on the ground in the Strip.
The campaign bears a name with religious, historical, and military connotations in the Israeli mind, inspired by "Operation Gideon," which Zionist forces carried out in 1948 to seize control of the Palestinian Beit Shean region.
Hebrew reports indicate that the current plan includes the forced evacuation of the entire Gaza Strip, particularly in the north, along with the establishment of areas under military control, including a "safe zone" in Rafah where entry will be screened. The plan also postpones any humanitarian interventions until the military expansion is complete.
This campaign comes amid an unprecedented escalation of genocide, with an Anadolu Agency correspondent recording the deaths of more than 378 Palestinians in the past three days alone. This coincided with US President Donald Trump's tour of the region, during which he promised a "better future for Gaza." The death toll was four times higher than the previous four days.
It's worth noting that Israel has been besieging Gaza for 18 years, with approximately 1.5 million Palestinians out of a population of 2.4 million suffering from displacement and famine, amidst the closure of crossings and the denial of aid entry. Since October 7, 2023, Israel, with full US support, has been committing genocidal crimes that have so far left more than 173,000 dead and wounded, most of them women and children, and more than 11,000 missing.
