Israel launches Operation Gideon’s Chariots 2, a massive multi-division offensive to seize Gaza City, mobilizing 60,000 fresh reservists, extending reserve service into 2026, and preparing humanitarian corridors as the IDF readies for a prolonged showdown with Hamas.
Israel is mobilizing one of its largest military operations in decades, with five divisions and 12 brigade combat teams set to storm Gaza City in the coming weeks.
Defense Minister Israel Katz has greenlit Operation Gideon’s Chariots 2, a sweeping campaign designed to break Hamas’ final stronghold. The operation will deploy the IDF’s three main regular divisions alongside reserves, amounting to a staggering 60,000 new reservists—on top of the 70,000 already in service. Some soldiers will see their reserve duty stretched to a grueling 140 days in 2025.
The IDF is already laying the groundwork: precision strikes in Zeitoun and Jabaliya have paved the way, while intelligence pinpoints that one Hamas brigade still clings to “limited capabilities” within Gaza City. The bigger threat lies beneath—an extensive, fortified tunnel network yet to be fully dismantled.
Peak force deployment is expected by September 2nd, after summer break ends, ensuring reservists are ready for extended service into 2026. Senior IDF officials insist Hamas’ defeat is “a strategic priority,” with one noting: “If a deal is reached, we’ll adjust. If not—we proceed as planned.”
In parallel, Israel will initiate civilian relocation from Gaza City. Humanitarian corridors, aid centers, and field hospitals will be opened, though no individual screenings will take place due to the sheer scale of the movement.
The campaign signals not just a battle for Gaza City—but a prolonged war aimed at eliminating Hamas’ infrastructure above and below ground.
