Classified Israeli military document reveals the failure of Operation Gideon’s Wagons to achieve its objectives in the Gaza Strip
Israeli media reported that a secret internal document prepared by the Israeli army unequivocally acknowledges the “failure of Operation Gideon,” which began last May, to achieve its objectives.
Media outlets reported that “the secret Israeli document reveals that Operation Gideon Armored Vehicles failed to achieve its objectives, and that Israel committed errors, particularly in not specifying a time for the operation”.
The document explained that Israel fought without proper planning or resource management, exhausted its forces, and lost all international credibility.
It emphasized that the Israeli army’s fighting style didn’t align with Hamas’s combat doctrine and fighting style, noting that the movement possessed all the necessary resources and fighting style for survival and victory.
The document noted that “some of the combat objectives were never achieved, as Hamas was neither defeated militarily nor politically, and the hostages were not returned, neither through a deal nor through a military operation”.
The document also outlined achievements on the ground, including: “the complete destruction of Hamas’s infrastructure in the surrounding areas and elsewhere, severe damage to the organization’s operatives and infrastructure, the elimination and damage of Hamas’s leadership – with an emphasis on Sinwar – and the return of the bodies of the abductees to Israel”.
The document also noted that “the methodological logic of the maneuver collapsed, as there was no concentration of efforts in the centers of gravity, and forces again operated in the same areas where they had originally maneuvered in the past, and the slowness – which arose from gaps in resources and a preference for the security principle – hindered the achievement of significant achievements”.
The IDF spokesperson responded to the document, saying, “This content was published without authorization or approval from the relevant authorities… The matter is being investigated… The IDF achieved the objectives set forth in Operation Gideon and recorded numerous accomplishments… The IDF is currently in the second phase of the operation and continues to work to achieve the war’s objectives”.
Last week, the Israeli military announced the approval of a plan for the next phase of the war in the Gaza Strip, emphasizing the focus on Gaza City with the goal of eliminating Hamas.
A military statement quoted Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir as saying, “We’ll maintain the momentum achieved in the Gideon Barracks while concentrating our efforts on Gaza City… We’ll continue the offensive until Hamas is eliminated, and the kidnapped soldiers are before our eyes”.
