Israel Announces Phase Two of 'Gideon's Chariots' Operation in Gaza

The Israeli military's Chief of Staff, Eyal Zamir, announced today, Wednesday, the start of the second phase of "Gideon's Chariots" in the Gaza Strip. He affirmed that the goal is to achieve the war's objectives by intensifying combat and deepening the military maneuver.

During a field tour in Gaza City, accompanied by senior military commanders, Zamir stressed that "recovering our captives is a moral and national mission." He added that forces will continue to "strike Hamas's centers of gravity until its defeat and instill in it a sense of persecution everywhere." These statements come as Israeli security sources confirmed that the army has now completely surrounded Gaza City, a place the army had described last week as a "dangerous combat zone" where evacuation is "unavoidable."

Widespread Mobilization and Escalation on the Ground

The Chief of Staff revealed that a large-scale mobilization of reserve forces began yesterday, indicating the army's plan to expand the scope of the attack on Gaza. He asserted that Israeli forces "are facing some of the greatest challenges in Israel's history" but are operating "with courage, determination, and dedication in the heart of the enemy's territory." In contrast, a report by Israel's Channel 12 indicated the army's assessment that occupying Gaza City will not be a quick process.

Rising Casualties and Humanitarian Tragedy

On the humanitarian front, Palestinian medical sources reported that the number of casualties in the Gaza Strip has risen to 119 in the past 24 hours, including 24 people who were waiting for aid, in addition to two journalists, Rasmi Salem and Ayman Haniyeh. The city has seen a major escalation in military operations, with Israeli forces intensifying their aerial and artillery bombardment of residential homes and displaced people's tents, while ground operations continue for the 30th consecutive day.

The displacement of residents toward the southern part of the Strip has continued, amid warnings from aid organizations about the lack of safe zones. The International Committee of the Red Cross had previously stated that a mass evacuation of the city is "impossible" and that the evacuation plans are "not only unfeasible but incomprehensible." It is worth noting that the vast majority of the Strip's population of over two million have been displaced at least once during the war.