The Israeli military has confirmed that it has deployed all regular infantry and armored brigades to the Gaza Strip as part of its intensified offensive, Operation Gideon’s Chariot. The announcement, made on Saturday, marks the first time that Israel has committed its entire standing ground force to a single theater of operations since the start of the conflict.
In addition to the regular army brigades, the deployment includes paratroopers, commando units, and reservists, bringing the total number of regular army brigades in Gaza to at least eleven. This follows earlier reports of five full divisions—amounting to tens of thousands of soldiers—being committed to the offensive.
The expanded offensive comes amid increasing international concern over Israel’s blockade of humanitarian aid into Gaza. The Israeli government has stated that the aim of Operation Gideon’s Chariot is to force the Palestinian population out of northern Gaza and relocate them to a smaller enclave in the south. Critics and humanitarian observers have warned that the strategy could amount to forced displacement, with growing speculation that aid distribution—reportedly set to be managed by American private military contractors—may be used to pressure Palestinians to leave Gaza entirely.
The latest military escalation comes as the population inside Gaza faces acute food shortages. According to humanitarian groups, tens of thousands are on the brink of famine due to the ongoing Israeli blockade of aid. Although Israel announced last week that it would allow humanitarian supplies to resume entering the territory following criticism from Western governments, aid convoys have remained minimal. This week, reports indicated that as few as five trucks entered Gaza in one day, with two of them carrying burial shrouds for those who have been killed.
Despite recent reports of tensions between U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—allegedly involving Trump urging Netanyahu to “wrap it up”—the White House has publicly maintained support for Israel’s ongoing campaign. Trump has denied any rift between the two leaders, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to Israel’s military objectives in Gaza.