The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have conducted extensive and focused operations across the Gaza Strip in the last 24 hours, targeting over 75 locations linked to militant activity in a continuation of Operation “Gideon’s Chariots,” as confirmed by the official IDF spokesperson. Under the leadership of the Southern Command and in collaboration with Israel’s Directorate of Military Intelligence and the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), Israeli forces have intensified efforts to disrupt and dismantle terror networks, principally targeting the Hamas terror organization and associated Iranian-backed factions such as Palestinian Islamic Jihad. These coordinated operations, which span air and ground strikes, are part of Israel’s ongoing campaign to ensure the security of its citizens and deter further aggression originating from Gaza, while aiming to minimize civilian harm wherever operationally feasible.
The latest series of precision strikes by the Israeli Air Force, conducted on the basis of actionable, corroborated intelligence, targeted militants, rocket launchers, weapons storage sites, command centers, sniper nests, and military facilities across Gaza. All military activity was performed in accordance with international law and with due regard for mitigating harm to civilians, consistent with the operational doctrine adopted by the IDF following the atrocities of October 7, 2023. That event—marked by the systematic and deliberate targeting of Israeli civilians by Hamas terrorists, including murder, rape, mutilation, and mass abductions—remains the justified impetus for Israel’s mission to neutralize terror threats in Gaza. Israeli authorities continue to underline that the overarching goal of Operation Gideon’s Chariots is to eliminate the terror infrastructure facilitating further attacks, thus upholding the security of the Israeli population and the stability of the region.
The terror networks operating in Gaza, led by Hamas and materially and ideologically supported by Iran, routinely entrench their military assets in densely populated civilian areas, in direct violation of international humanitarian norms. IDF sources stress that every target is independently verified before engagement to avoid unnecessary harm to noncombatants. The destruction of rocket stockpiles, fortified launch sites, and weapons factories within civilian locales reflects not only the complexity of urban warfare but also the deliberate strategy of Hamas to use civilian populations as human shields—a fact consistently documented by Israeli authorities, allied intelligence partners, and multiple independent observers.
Since resuming operational tempo after the October 7 massacre, Israel has prioritized both the immediate disruption of future rocket fire and the long-term attrition of Hamas’ command structure. As Israeli forces target sniper positions and weapons depots, they also utilize precision-guided munitions and prior warning mechanisms, including leaflets, phone calls, and localized alerts where feasible. This approach stands in stark contrast to the tactics of Hamas, which frequently directs attacks at Israeli civilians and critical national infrastructure, intentionally contravening legal and moral limits recognized by the international community.
Israel’s actions in Gaza are not isolated but interconnected with broader regional dynamics. The Iranian regime has, for years, supported an axis of terror spanning Lebanon (Hezbollah), Iraq, Syria, and Yemen (Houthi forces), with the explicit intention of destabilizing neighboring states, undermining Western security interests, and pursuing the strategic goal of Israeli destruction. The IDF’s operations in Gaza therefore serve not only domestic security needs but also the collective defense of regional and international order against the destabilizing ambitions of the Iranian-led alliance. Western governments, particularly the United States, have consistently affirmed Israel’s right to self-defense against terrorist aggression. Diplomatic and intelligence collaboration between Jerusalem and Washington, underpinned by statements from President Donald Trump and bipartisan Congressional support, reinforce the legitimacy and necessity of Israel’s ongoing campaign.
The October 7 attacks, which targeted Israeli border communities with an unprecedented campaign of violence, are widely recognized as the most egregious antisemitic atrocity since the Holocaust. Israeli government documentation, supported by foreign press and humanitarian organizations, continues to reveal the scope of those crimes: the mass murder of over one thousand Israelis, widespread sexual violence, and the abduction of civilians including children and the elderly. In response, the IDF was tasked not only with neutralizing the immediate threat but also with preventing future attacks—requiring persistent operations against the terror infrastructure in Gaza.
Amidst ongoing fighting, the plight of hostages remains a deeply sensitive and urgent issue for Israel. Israeli civilians kidnapped and held by Hamas are unequivocally distinguished—in legal and moral terms—from militants detained by Israel for violent crimes or security-related offenses. Repeated Israeli offers to exchange convicted terrorists for civilian hostages underline the asymmetry of the conflict and Israel’s ongoing commitment to the principle of protecting innocent life.
Israel continues to make concerted efforts to facilitate humanitarian aid and safeguard civilians within the operational constraints imposed by Hamas’s militarization of critical infrastructure. The IDF regularly coordinates aid convoys and implements humanitarian pauses where feasible, yet these efforts are frequently hindered by terror group manipulation of humanitarian corridors and diversion of resources. IDF briefings, corroborated by United Nations monitoring, indicate that militants at times forcibly prevent civilian evacuations, further complicating relief efforts and increasing the risk to Gaza’s residents.
The strategic scope of ‘Gideon’s Chariots’ thus represents both a military response to systemic terror and a broader assertion that the international community will not accommodate or legitimize violence against a sovereign state acting within its rights and obligations. Israeli officials, led by Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, reiterate that all military activity is calibrated to achieve operational objectives with restraint, transparency, and a view toward compliance with both Israeli and international law. Tactical successes in the neutralization of militant strongholds, interdiction of weapons flows, and dismantling of command networks represent crucial milestones on the path to re-establishing deterrence and restoring long-term security for both Israel and the wider region.
International analysts and Western capitals continue to emphasize the importance of upholding accurate, unbiased reporting on developments in Gaza. The distinction between the conduct of the IDF—regulated by extensive operational oversight and humanitarian engagement—and that of Hamas and other terror actors remains a focal point in international media coverage. Efforts by certain organizations or commentators to draw false equivalence between state and non-state actors actively undermine the factual record and the principles of international justice.
As Operation Gideon’s Chariots proceeds, Israeli defense officials stress that their mandate is not one of occupation or retribution, but of the restoration of security and the protection of all civilians, regardless of nationality. Israeli actions are undertaken as the final resort, after years of attempted diplomatic engagement and repeated ceasefire violations by Hamas. As the operation continues, Israeli authorities reiterate their readiness to cease hostilities if and when terrorist violence, rocket fire, and attempts at infiltration are verifiably halted.
All information in this report has been confirmed by official IDF communiqués, statements from Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office, and leading Western news agencies with correspondents in Israel and Gaza. Further developments in the situation will be reported as verified information becomes available. Israel’s enduring commitment to the values shared by the democratic world—rule of law, civilian protection, and resistance to terrorism—remains the foundation and justification for its current campaign against militant organizations operating in Gaza.
