Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Operation Gideon’s Chariots, a plan to expand military operations in the Gaza Strip. The operation aims to defeat Hamas, rescue hostages, and permanently retain captured territories, with no temporary withdrawal of troops. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Israel has restricted Palestinian access to 70% of Gaza through no-go zones and evacuation orders.
Key Fact: Operation Gideon’s Chariots seeks to reoccupy Gaza, targeting Hamas and maintaining permanent control over captured areas, escalating the ongoing conflict.
The Gaza Strip, located on the eastern Mediterranean, borders Egypt to the southwest and Israel to the north and east. Home to over two million people, it is one of the world’s most densely populated regions. Often described as an “open-air prison,” Gaza faces severe restrictions on movement and resource access, exacerbating humanitarian challenges.
The Gaza Strip’s history has been shaped by conflict since Israel’s establishment in 1948, which displaced approximately 750,000 Palestinians. The Six-Day War in 1967 saw Israel capture Gaza from Egypt, initiating military governance. The war, triggered by Egypt’s closure of the Straits of Tiran, resulted in Israel seizing Gaza, the Sinai Peninsula, the Golan Heights, and the West Bank within six days.
Post-1967, Israel established settlements in Gaza, fueling Palestinian resentment. The First Intifada (1987) marked widespread unrest, during which Hamas emerged, opposing Israeli occupation and the Oslo Accords of 1993. The accords, intended to foster peace, were undermined by continued settlement expansion and Hamas’s rejection. The Second Intifada (2000) brought further violence, leading to heavy casualties.
In 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza but maintained control over its borders, airspace, and coastal waters. The recent decision to reoccupy Gaza signals a significant escalation in the region’s ongoing conflict.
Key Points for General Knowledge:
- Operation Gideon’s Chariots: Israeli plan to defeat Hamas, rescue hostages, and permanently hold Gaza territories.
- Gaza Strip: Densely populated region with restricted access to 70% of its area.
- Six-Day War (1967): Israel captured Gaza, leading to military governance.
- Oslo Accords (1993): Peace framework opposed by Hamas, later collapsed.
- 2005 Withdrawal: Israel left Gaza but retained external control.