Israel’s military operation “Gideon Chariots” in the Gaza Strip has failed to achieve its strategic objectives, marking what Israeli analysts now describe as one of the most unsuccessful operations in the history of the Israeli army — despite public claims by the military leadership that all objectives have been met and that 75% of the territory has been brought under control.
Military experts and political analysts affirm that “Gideon Chariots” failed to translate its political aims into real military achievements. According to strategic and military expert Brigadier General Elias Hanna, the operation did not achieve its political goals despite the vast resources allocated to it.
The latest statement by the Israeli army claims that “Gideon Chariots” succeeded entirely, asserting control over 75% of Gaza’s territory.
Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi sought to reassure the public, pledging that the army would ensure Gaza no longer poses any threat to Israel.
However, from a purely military standpoint, there remains a significant difference between entering a territory and controlling it.
On the ground, Palestinian resistance forces continue to fight from Beit Hanoun to Shuja’iyya, Khan Yunis, and even in the border areas which were supposed to be under full Israeli control.
Despite Israeli claims of holding three-quarters of Gaza, Palestinian resistance on Thursday launched a rocket barrage targeting the Gaza Envelope. The attack refuted occupation claims of territorial control, as the rockets were launched from areas Israel had declared “cleared” and fully under its grip.
Moreover, military analyst Elias Hanna argues that Israel’s division of Gaza into fragmented zones like Morag and Magen Oz, among others, is evidence of a lack of total control. He adds that merely entering an area and staying there only provides the resistance with new targets, rather than establishing lasting security.
The Political Dimension
Politically, “Gideon Chariots” appears to be driven more by ideological motives than by a coherent military strategy. Observers believe the real goal was to occupy the Gaza Strip and forcibly displace its population to the south, without any defined political framework.
Despite enormous investments in the operation, including replacing the Defence Minister and Chief of Staff, lifting U.S. weapons restrictions, and allocating vast funds in the March 2025 budget, the campaign failed to reach its objectives. According to Israeli affairs analyst Mohannad Mustafa, the operation’s primary flaw was its poor timing.
Mustafa notes that the political and social climate in May 2025 differs dramatically from that of October 2023. The operation failed to generate national consensus, particularly because it was viewed as an ideological war rather than a defensive necessity.
The Israeli political establishment focused solely on how to turn military advances into political facts on the ground in Gaza, ignoring core issues such as the fate of Israeli captives, ceasefire arrangements, or viable political solutions. This shortsighted approach ultimately contributed to the failure of the operation.
Military Setbacks and Erosion of Capacity
Militarily, the Israeli army is now suffering from prolonged fatigue and depletion of its operational capacity after 21 continuous months of fighting. This exhaustion is not limited to personnel — it extends to equipment and ammunition, much of which now requires comprehensive refurbishment.
For these reasons, Elias Hanna concludes that Gaza has become Israel’s greatest burden and the largest obstacle to any regional project. He stresses that this war — fought within just 365 square kilometres — is a full-scale urban war, not a guerrilla campaign as often portrayed.
Following the events of October 7, 2023, the Israeli military shifted to a drastically different security doctrine. Hanna believes this new strategy requires immense resources that exceed the army’s actual capacity, necessitating a complete overhaul of the military’s structure and an expansion of its forces.
Inside “Gideon Chariots”: Objectives and Execution
In early May 2025, Israel’s Security Cabinet (“the Cabinet”) approved the “Gideon Chariots” plan, aiming to achieve both military and political victory in the Gaza Strip. The plan involved a structured, three-phase operation backed by five layers of pressure on the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) to force acceptance of a prisoner exchange deal and dismantling of its military infrastructure.
The Israeli army began implementing the plan by mobilising tens of thousands of reservists. According to Israel’s official broadcaster on May 5, 2025, the ultimate aim of the operation was to fully occupy the Gaza Strip.
