Israel’s ‘Operation Gideon’s Chariots’ Has Commenced Its Second Phase

Image - Emad El Byed

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On the 5th September 2025, Israel commenced its push on the ‘last real stronghold’ of Hamas - Gaza City, labelling it ‘Operation Gideon’s Chariots II’.

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Israel has been readying for this assault over the past month, with a drastic increase in reservist soldiers being called to action and an increase in air and artillery strikes, with the aim of destroying Hamas and its governing ability, taking control of the Gaza strip in its entirety, and recovering hostages. Israeli defence minister, Israel Katz, addressed an audience on the 28th July 2025 where he said that once Palestinian residents had been warned to move they will ‘operate from the land, from the air and if necessary from the sea’.

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Critics of Israel have described this as the ‘most destructive and strategically futile’ attack that Palestine has suffered. It is believed that at least 46 people have been killed in the destruction of schools and residential buildings in the Gaza Strip over the past 2 days. But on top of this, the plan has been condemned by the Israeli military Chief of Staff, Eyal Zamir, on the basis of putting the lives of hostages at risk. It is difficult to see how Israel would be able to retain support if it is disregarding warnings about putting the lives of its own hostages at risk. Can a blatant disregard for the lives of its own citizens be justified under the premise of ‘the right to self defence’? 

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What is ‘Operation Gideon’s Chariots II’? 

Initially launched in May 2025, Operation Gideon's Chariots is a major ground offensive on the Gaza strip and has now entered its second phase. One of the aims of this operation was to work towards freeing the Israeli hostages being held by Hamas; Netanyahu has faced significant criticism from the families of hostages and other critics for not prioritising this. The name of this operation is an important feature, coming from the bible story of an unlikely hero named Gideon who was chosen to fight against the oppression of Israelis from Midianites, an Arab tribe from the northwestern Arabian Desert.

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The second wave of this operation began on the 5th of September 2025 with the demolition of high-rise residential buildings in Gaza city, the most densely populated area. Seeking to gain control of the area, by destroying these buildings it is forcing families to abandon everything they have left and move to southwestern Palestine. Katz has described the second phase of Operation Gideon’s Chariots as the opening of ‘the gates of Hell’. 

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Time for the International Powers to Step Up

Donald Trump remains one of Israel’s greatest supporters and the international platform is all too aware of this. In early June of this year at a UN meeting, the US was the only country to vote against an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, and due to its veto powers the entire draft was blocked by this singular vote. A prime example of the United Nations main flaw, the veto power of the Security Council placing countries into a hierarchy that is highly outdated. Regarding Operation Gideon's Chariots, Trump has publicly supported the plan with himself and many of his advisors believing that ‘the moment you collapse the centre of gravity… Hamas falls apart’, a statement given by Netanyahu in an announcement last month. 

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In regards to the UK, there has been very little shift within the leading Labour Party apart from calls from backbench MPs for harsher consequences and sanctions to be placed on Israel. Jeremy Corbyn, MP and the leader of the newly announced ‘Your Party’ (a provisional name), has announced there will be a two-day public inquiry into British complicity and covert support for Israel from the Labour party. The UK has supplied Israel with equipment that has been used in their construction of F-35 fighter jets, manufactured by British company Lockheed Martin. One of which was used in the destruction of a hospital in Gaza. Change of the Labour party’s stance should not be expected any time soon, particularly following the appointment of David Lammy as Deputy Prime Minister who has abstained or been absent from many recent votes regarding the genocide in Palestine. 

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In a recent discussion, the UN Rapporteur for Palestine, Francesca Albanese, stated that “Each state must immediately review and suspend all ties with the State of Israel…” Turkey has fulfilled this and is now highlighted as following the correct course of action. 

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Aid is still being prevented from reaching 2 million people in Gaza and many hospitals have been destroyed. Israel has opened the ‘gates of hell’, seeking to take control of the most densely populated area and displace more innocent Palestinians, all while the strongest powers on the international platform stand by and watch it happen. Silence is complicity. 

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What follows?

The response of Yemen and the Houthis is one of the most important to gauge how the war in the Middle East will progress. The conflict between Israel and the Houthis has recently escalated following the assassination of Ahmed Al-Rahawi, the Houthi Prime Minister and this recent attack on Palestine has done nothing to ease the rising tensions. Just two days after the 5th of September attacks the Houthis have fired a drone at the Ramon Airport in Israel, it is believed 2 people have been injured. Many of the attacks on Israel have been labelled as being ‘acts of solidarity’ to Palestine from the Houthis, therefore an increase in violence amongst the triad could be expected to follow. On the 9th of September 2025 at midday, Israel widened its persecution of Hamas and reportedly carried out an assassination attempt on the leader of Hamas in Qatar, an attack which came in place of ceasefire talks.