Equipment Crisis Threatens "Gideon's Chariots 2": Israeli Report Reveals Severe Logistics Shortages Facing the Army in Gaza

The Israeli newspaper "Yedioth Ahronoth" has revealed, in an exclusive report, significant logistical and military challenges facing the Israeli army as it prepares to launch a large-scale ground operation in the Gaza Strip, dubbed "Gideon's Chariots 2." This development comes after Israeli Chief of Staff, General Eyal Zamir, announced the start of the second phase of the operation aimed at gaining full control of Gaza City, despite the severe equipment shortages the army is experiencing after a year of continuous fighting.

Acute Shortages in Equipment and Readiness:

According to internal engineering reports reviewed by the newspaper, the Israeli army is suffering from a critical lack of basic equipment. The reports indicate that between 30% and 40% of military bulldozers are not fit for combat operations. Spare parts for tanks and armored personnel carriers also remain extremely scarce. Despite a massive procurement campaign that included 80,000 new rifles and thousands of drones, the army has only received half of the required night vision devices (about 20,000 units) and only 1,500 Humvee vehicles. The army acknowledged that the readiness rate for bulldozers will not exceed 70% during the upcoming ground maneuver due to increasing losses from anti-tank fire.

Mobilization of Reserves and Tactical Development:

To address these shortages, the Israeli army this week called up five reserve brigades under emergency orders, with three of them placed under the Southern Command to replace the regular units that will lead the anticipated assault. New training centers have also been established to prepare the troops for urban warfare tactics and dealing with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in an effort to minimize risks to soldiers.

International Pressure and New Tactics:

This logistical crisis coincides with increasing international pressure and restrictions on arms exports to Israel. Most notably, Germany, a key supplier of tank engines, has decided to halt its military exports to Tel Aviv, forcing Israel to urgently seek alternatives.

According to "Yedioth Ahronoth," the ground maneuver in Gaza City might begin in mid-September, involving four military divisions aimed at pushing civilians south toward the displacement areas in Al-Mawasi.

To reduce risks to soldiers, the Israeli army has adopted a new building demolition technique known as "Roof to Ground." This method uses drones to create openings in building roofs, through which powerful explosive charges are inserted, reducing hours of work to just a few minutes. The newspaper quoted a senior ground forces officer who stated, "Israel is fighting a long war the army has not seen before, and there is a massive depletion of personnel and equipment."