Israel has intensified its military campaign in Gaza under Operation Gideon’s Chariots, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declaring that the final push to seize Gaza City and dismantle Hamas is imminent.
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), since the launch of the operation on March 18, approximately 30 kilometers of terror tunnels have been destroyed and more than 2,000 Hamas fighters eliminated. Military officials say the IDF now controls 75 percent of the Gaza Strip, having established two vital corridors that split Hamas forces between Rafah and Khan Yunis.
Netanyahu said he has instructed the military to “shorten the timelines for seizing the last terror strongholds and for the defeat of Hamas,” stressing that the army must accelerate its offensive in Gaza City. His office further conveyed the prime minister’s “deep appreciation to the reserve fighters who were mobilized and to their families, and to all IDF soldiers” engaged in the campaign.
The IDF is expected to present its final operational plans for the capture of Gaza City to Netanyahu tomorrow, marking what officials described as a decisive stage in the conflict.
Brigadier General Effie Defrin, the IDF’s chief spokesman, characterized Hamas as a “battered and bruised guerrilla organization” following weeks of heavy Israeli strikes. He confirmed that reservists are being called up to reinforce frontline units ahead of the citywide offensive.
“We will intensify our strikes on Hamas in Gaza City, targeting the terror stronghold above and below ground, and break the group’s grip on the civilian population,” Defrin told reporters at a press briefing. He added that preliminary operations had already begun, with Israeli forces “taking control of the outskirts of Gaza City.”
The looming assault on Gaza City is expected to be the most significant and decisive phase of Israel’s military campaign, as Netanyahu seeks to deliver a strategic defeat to Hamas and bring the group’s military infrastructure to collapse.
Senior Reporter at AMN News Agency, known for his insightful journalism and in-depth coverage of current events.
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