Israel is set to activate military reserves on Sunday as it gears up for a significant operation dubbed “Gideon’s Tank,” aimed at seizing control of Gaza and tackling Hamas over the upcoming months.
The Israeli government indicated that if Hamas does not agree to a hostage exchange by the conclusion of President Donald Trump’s visit from May 13th to 16th, the operation will be initiated.
Analysts describe “Gideon’s Tank” as following a traditional “clear, hold, build” approach, focused on eliminating Hamas and establishing new, non-militarized authorities to govern Gaza’s Palestinian community.
Israel intends to apply military pressure to assist in the rescue of hostages in innovative ways. The aim isn’t primarily to pressure Hamas’ leadership, which remains unwilling to negotiate, but to isolate the specific Hamas cells detaining the prisoners.
Plans include maintaining a presence of the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) in Gaza for an extended period. Moreover, President Trump has suggested that the U.S. might take control of Gaza after Hamas is dealt with, following the withdrawal of American forces.
