On May 16, the Israeli military launched the first phase of “Gideon’s Chariots,” a Gaza occupation plan previously approved by the Israeli Cabinet.
Until now, attacks on Gaza have been primarily focused on launching a wave of airstrikes, but going forward, Israeli ground forces will directly enter the Gaza Strip.
In a statement released on X (formerly Twitter) on the 16th, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced, “The IDF has launched Operation Gideon’s Chariots to secure the release of hostages and eliminate Hamas,” adding that they had “begun operations to seize strategic positions in Gaza.”
Earlier, On the 4th, the Israeli Cabinet approved a plan titled ‘Gideon’s Chariots,’ aimed at expanding ground operations in the Gaza Strip to ensure the complete release of hostages and the defeat of Hamas, while maintaining territorial control.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had stated that if negotiations with Hamas made no progress by the 15th, the plan would be put into action. The decision to wait until after that date took into account the possibility that U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East tour from the 14th to the 16th could yield a breakthrough in ceasefire negotiations. However, during his visit, President Trump did not take any concrete action regarding Gaza, and Israel opted to escalate its offensive immediately following President Trump’s conclusion of his Middle East Trip tour.
Israel reportedly conducted aerial bombardments on Beit Lahia in northern Gaza after dropping leaflets that instructed residents to ‘immediately evacuate to the south. Bombs were also dropped on the nearby Jabalia refugee camp. Signs of a ground troop deployment were also observed. According to Reuters, citing informed sources, Israeli tanks were heading toward Khan Yunis in southern Gaza.
