In January 2026, the Israeli military unveiled a new multi-year strategy known as the Hoshen Plan, designed to rebuild and modernise its armed forces in the aftermath of the 7 October attack.
The programme will run for five years, from 2026 to 2030, and carries an estimated cost of 350 billion shekels, or approximately 111 billion US dollars, according to Israeli media reports.
The plan takes its name from the Hoshen, the breastplate worn by the Jewish High Priest according to biblical tradition. The breastplate contained twelve stones representing the twelve tribes of Israel, a symbolism reflected in the plan’s twelve main pillars.
Developed under instructions from Israel’s political leadership and informed by investigations conducted after the Palestinian resistance launched Operation Al Aqsa Flood, the initiative seeks to restore the military’s capabilities after two years of fighting and improve its readiness for future surprise wars, including strengthening border defences, according to Israel’s Channel 13.
What Is the Hoshen Plan?
The Hoshen Plan was officially announced by the Israeli military on 12 January 2026 and presented by Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir as a blueprint for rebuilding the army after the events of 7 October.
The strategy spans the period between 2026 and 2030 and was formulated based on the findings of investigations into Operation Al Aqsa Flood and the war that followed in Gaza.
According to Israeli military media, the plan rests on two parallel tracks: maintaining intensive operational activity while simultaneously building military power.
Its twelve pillars begin with “personnel”, followed by “war readiness”, “restoration of competence and rehabilitation”, “borders”, and “air defence and near ground threats”.
Channel 13 reported that the programme was drafted following a comprehensive assessment of the Israeli military’s condition and under direct guidance from the political leadership.
It also draws lessons from Israel’s wars in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran, while including an annual review process intended to adapt the plan to regional developments and changing conditions in the Middle East.
Strategic Objectives
The Hoshen Plan primarily aims to restore and strengthen the Israeli military after two years of war and prepare it for future conflicts.
A central objective is improving readiness for surprise attacks, with particular emphasis on fortifying borders, one of the major lessons Israeli officials say they drew from 7 October.
The programme also includes rebuilding and expanding military capabilities that emerged during Operation Rising Lion against Iran, which the Israeli military continues to regard as its principal adversary, according to Channel 13.
Beyond that, the plan seeks to improve offensive manoeuvre capabilities and ensure that military units remain operational under heavy and precise enemy fire.
It also prioritises strengthening intelligence capabilities, expanding the use of robotics and autonomous systems, and increasing investments in space related military technologies, according to Israel Hayom.
The plan further calls for major organisational reforms aimed at preparing the military for future operations in space.
Specialised teams will also be created to improve resource management, respond to rapid technological developments in both defence and offensive systems, and develop organisational culture within the military itself.
Budget and Financial Commitments
Financially, Hoshen is part of a broader long term military expansion programme estimated to cost around 350 billion shekels, or approximately 111 billion US dollars, over ten years, according to Channel 13.
In this context, the Israeli Knesset announced on 24 March 2026 that its military budget committee had approved a defence budget for 2026 worth approximately 143 billion shekels, equivalent to about 38.6 billion US dollars.
An additional 22 billion shekels, or roughly 5.9 billion US dollars, is expected to come from American military assistance.
Mounting Challenges
Despite its ambitions, the Hoshen Plan faces what analysts describe as a highly complex military, financial and human reality.
On 29 April 2026, Israeli business newspaper Calcalist reported that the Ministry of Defence’s debt to military industries had reached a record level of nearly 13 billion shekels, or around 3.5 billion US dollars.
The increase coincided with a dramatic rise in the military budget, which grew from 112 billion shekels at the beginning of the year to approximately 144 billion shekels.
The future of American military aid is also a major concern.
According to an article in Yedioth Ahronoth, the Hoshen Plan is being implemented amid growing fears inside the military that the United States could significantly reduce military assistance programmes beginning in 2028 under a new framework.
Military correspondent Yoav Zitun wrote in Yedioth Ahronoth on 12 January 2026 that previous plans, including Gideon and Tnufa, repeatedly collapsed over the past fifteen years due to disputes with the Ministry of Finance, security escalations or the absence of an approved state budget.
A Growing Manpower Crisis
The Israeli military is also facing a serious personnel shortage.
On 20 May 2026, Calcalist quoted the head of the Planning and Human Resources Directorate as saying the military currently lacks around 12,000 soldiers, including between 6,000 and 7,500 combat troops.
He warned that this gap could widen to nearly 17,000 soldiers by early 2027, placing additional pressure on plans for military expansion and force building.
Earlier, on 17 May 2026, Israel’s public broadcaster Kan warned of a direct link between the country’s contentious conscription law and the size of its operational forces.
The report stated that unless new legislation succeeds in bringing more recruits into the army, particularly through large scale enlistment of ultra Orthodox Jews, Israel could face a severe manpower shortage within months.
According to the report, although the number of combat soldiers recruited during the war increased, the overall size of the fighting force remained almost unchanged due to battlefield casualties, injuries and exhaustion.
As a result, the question of ultra Orthodox military service has become one of the central issues shaping Israel’s five year military strategy.
