Israel sets Gaza campaign goal
Goal of Major Gaza Operation Revealed: “To Create a Small Gaza”
Five days into Operation “Gideon’s Chariots,” the IDF says it plans to control 75% of Gaza to isolate Hamas.



Five days into Operation “Gideon’s Chariots,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has revealed its strategic goal: to secure operational control over approximately 75% of the Gaza Strip, effectively shrinking the territory under Hamas’s influence.
A senior Israeli defense official, speaking to N12, described the objective as “making Gaza smaller” to disrupt Hamas’s operations and sever its ties with the civilian population. “We will create checkpoints and control points to screen out Hamas terrorists,” the official said, noting that by the operation’s end, only a quarter of Gaza would remain outside Israeli control.
The IDF currently holds more than 50% of the Strip, with operational dominance in some areas and a physical presence in others, where Palestinian civilians have been displaced to regions like Gaza City, central Gaza camps, Al-Mawasi, and Khan Younis. The strategy hinges on dividing Gaza into segments to isolate Hamas militants, a move intended to weaken the group’s grip on the population.
On Thursday, IDF Arabic spokesperson Col. Avichai Adraee issued an urgent evacuation order for residents of northern Gaza neighborhoods, including Jabalia refugee camp and Beit Lahia, directing them to move south. The warning, signaling an imminent expansion of ground operations, stated, “The IDF is operating with great force in your area. Terrorist organizations continue their activities, and the IDF will expand operations until these groups are eliminated.”
The operation, which began earlier this week with a ground incursion, is different from previous campaigns. IDF spokesperson Brig. Gen. Efi Defrin outlined three core principles: establishing operational control, clearing terrorist infrastructure, and relocating civilians to protect them while targeting Hamas’s military and civilian leadership.
“Unlike past efforts, we are concentrating our forces and striking until a decisive outcome,” Defrin said. He highlighted the mobilization of a large reserve force, adding that reservists “understand the gravity of the moment” and their role as a security necessity.
On Tuesday, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir addressed stalled hostage negotiations, issuing a stark warning to Hamas: “Release our hostages, or face the full force of our firepower.” He vowed to escalate ground operations, seize additional territory, and dismantle Hamas’s infrastructure until the group is defeated.
The stated goal of controlling 75% of Gaza contrasts with remarks from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who claimed the operation aims to secure “all of the Strip” under Israel’s security control. “Our forces are capturing more and more areas in Gaza,” Netanyahu said at a press conference, projecting full territorial dominance by the operation’s end.
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