Israel Prepares For Final Push Against Hamas With 'Gideon's Chariots'

Israeli troops are set to "act with great force" until all war goals for Gaza, including the defeat of Hamas and securing the release of every hostage, are achieved, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned on Wednesday.

The entire population of the Gaza Strip will be evacuated to the southern part of the enclave during the fighting, and the Israel Defense Force will stay in "every area that is taken," the defense minister said.

"The operation is intended to defeat Hamas and bring about the release of all the hostages. We will act with great force to destroy all of Hamas's military and governmental capabilities," he told soldiers of the IDF's 162nd "Steel Formation" Armored Division, which is expected to take part in the ground campaign, dubbed "Operation Gideon's Chariots."

"From the moment the maneuver begins, we will act with great force and will not stop until all objectives are achieved," Katz continued.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) director Ronen Bar have approved operational plans for an expanded military campaign against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The approval followed a situational assessment held on Tuesday at IDF Southern Command headquarters, attended by senior members of the military's General Staff Forum and led by Zamir. According to an official statement, the operation will involve intensified maneuvers in Gaza, with Israeli forces expected to maintain control of areas they capture.

The announcement comes a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israeli military operations in Gaza would escalate. In a video message posted on Monday, Netanyahu said the move followed a late-night Security Cabinet meeting on Sunday.

"We decided on intensified action in Gaza," Netanyahu said. "That was the IDF chief of staff's recommendation--to move, as he said, toward the defeat of Hamas. He believes this will also help us rescue the hostages."

Netanyahu emphasized that the military effort would not wane and promised Israel "will not give up on anyone." He also indicated that, unlike in previous rounds, reserve forces would be stationed in territories taken during the fighting. The military plans to facilitate population movements to safeguard civilians, he added.

The operation could begin in full force if no hostage deal is reached before U.S. President Donald Trump concludes an expected visit to the region next week, an unnamed Israeli official told local media. Trump is scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates between May 13 and 16.

Meanwhile, in a joint operation on Tuesday, the IDF and Shin Bet carried out a targeted strike on a Hamas command and control center in central Gaza. According to the joint statement, the facility housed weapons intended for use in attacks against Israeli civilians and troops.

Multiple precautions were taken to avoid civilian casualties, including the use of precision-guided munitions, aerial surveillance and advance warnings to residents in the area, according to the statement.

"Terrorists systematically violate international law, exploiting civilian infrastructure and the Gazan population as human shields," the statement read. "The IDF and ISA will continue to operate against terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip to protect the State of Israel."

Originally published at JNS.org