Israel Launches Operation ‘Gideon Chariots’ To Finally Finish Off Hamas
TV channel i24NEWS: The IDF “had begun extensive strikes and moved forces to seize dominating positions in Gaza.”
Israel, on Friday night, launched a large-scale military operation in Gaza aimed at freeing the remaining hostages and destroying Hamas after the Gaza-based terror group rejected the latest ceasefire offer presented at the talks being held in Doha, Qatar.
“IDF has announced shortly before midnight on Friday that over the past day, it had begun extensive strikes and moved forces to seize dominating positions in Gaza as part of the opening moves of Operation ‘Gideon’s Chariots’ and the expansion of the campaign in Gaza,” the Israeli news website Ynetnews reported.
The IDF announced it has launched extensive strikes and troop mobilizations in Gaza to establish operational control, as part of preparations to expand military operations aimed at securing hostage releases and dismantling Hamas. pic.twitter.com/36dvJbnehf
— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) May 16, 2025
The operation was announced after Hamas rejected another ceasefire proposal presented by Steve Witkoff, the special envoy to the Middle East — further stalling negotiations for the release of the remaining hostages in its captivity since October 7, 2023.
“Sources familiar with the matter said that Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, attempted to break the deadlock in the Doha talks with a small deal for hostage releases in exchange for a month-long ceasefire,” the news outlet added.”However, there is currently no agreement, as Hamas still insists on a permanent end to the war.”
Amid the ongoing IDF operation, Hamas appears to have changed its tune and agreed to return to the table in Doha, media reports on Saturday afternoon suggest.
The Jerusalem Post reported Saturday:
Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Saturday that as the IDF expands its operations in Gaza, the Hamas delegation in Doha has announced its intention to resume negotiations on a hostage deal.
“This is in contrast to the uncooperative position they had taken up until this moment,” he added.
Hamas confirmed this new round of talks with Israel was underway in Qatar’s Doha, group official Taher al-Nono told Reuters.
⭕️ The IDF has begun conducting extensive strikes and mobilizing troops to achieve operational control in the areas of Gaza, over the past day.
This is part of preparations to expand operations and fulfill the objectives of the war — including the release of hostages and the…— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) May 16, 2025
The Gideon’s Chariots appear to be a massive operation. Israel mobilized ‘tens of thousands’ of reservists in the run up to the push. The Times of Israel reported May 3 that the IDF “was sending out tens of thousands of call-up orders to reservists, as the military was set to significantly expand its offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.”
The IDF seeks to expand the area under its control. Israeli troops already hold 30 percent of the enclave, driving a wedge between north and south Gaza and controlling the border with Egypt. “Over the past day, the IDF has begun conducting extensive strikes and mobilizing troops to achieve operational control in areas of the Gaza Strip, as part of preparations to expand operations and fulfill the objectives of the war — including the release of hostages and the dismantling of the Hamas terrorist organization,” the Israeli military said in statement late night Saturday.
“IDF troops will continue to operate in order to protect Israeli civilians and achieve the objectives of the war,” the statement added.
IDF says it's carrying out 'extensive' strikes targeting Hamas infrastructure in Gaza and mobilized troops 'in preparation' for launching operation 'Gideon's Chariots' pic.twitter.com/oi1htD9Ijx
— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) May 16, 2025
Israeli fighter jets hit Houthi terror ports in Yemen
The Israeli Air Force, on Friday evening, hit three ports in Yemen used by Iran to supply weapons to the Houthi Islamic terrorist group.
The operation took place after Israel issued an evacuation order for the ports days ahead of the strike. “Five days after the warning to evacuate the ports, the IDF has begun launching airstrikes on Hodeidah, Ras Issa, and Salif. Saudi Al-Hadath reports at least 10 airstrikes so far,” the i24NEWS reported.
Israel issued prior warnings aimed at minimizing civilian casualties. “A short while ago, the IDF struck and dismantled terrorist infrastructure sites belonging to the Houthi terrorist regime in the Hudaydah and Salif Ports in Yemen,” the military revealed Saturday evening.
These ports have been used by Iran to deliver weapons, including missiles and drones, to the Houthis. The Yemen-based terrorist group has been using this arsenal to launch strikes on Israel and impose an illegal embargo by hijacking and sinking Western-owned cargo ships.
“These ports are used to transfer weapons and are a further example of the Houthi terrorist regime’s systematic and cynical exploitation of civilian infrastructure in order to advance terrorist activities,” the IDF explained. “The strikes were conducted after numerous advanced warnings issued by the IDF to the population in the area in order to mitigate the risk of harm to civilian population in the areas of these sites. Any hostile activity in these ports will continue to be prevented.”
Besides the Lebanon-based Hezbollah and Iran, the Houthis joined Hamas’s terrorist war against Israel after October 7, 2023. In the past 19 months, Houthis, an Iranian terror proxy, have “launched dozens of missile and drone attacks on commercial ships,” the BBC noted recently. “They have sunk two vessels, seized a third and killed four crew members.”
“Over the past year and a half, the Houthi terrorist regime has been operating under Iranian direction and funding in order to harm the State of Israel and its allies, undermining regional stability and disrupting global freedom of navigation,” the IDF statement added. “In light of the Houthi terrorist regime’s use of these ports for terrorist activity, the IDF continues to warn individuals in the area of the ports to evacuate.”
BREAKING: Five days after the IDF warning, The IDF has begun launching airstrikes on the ports of Hodeidah, Ras Issa, and Salif in Yemen, according to the Houthis. Saudi Al-Hadath reports at least 10 airstrikes so far. https://t.co/BGQUrRItBo pic.twitter.com/h2Yme5WKyl
— Ariel Oseran أريئل أوسيران (@ariel_oseran) May 16, 2025
In a separate statement Saturday night, the military disclosed that “15 fighter jets carried out strikes and dropped over 30 munitions on targets belonging to the Houthi terrorist regime.”
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Comments
The IDF needs to keep going until there is no more need to keep going. Where the hostages are probably nobody knows unless it is with luck Israel has managed to find out. Do everything possible to find them, but keep going. Don’t talk any more.
There is a time for negotiations and a time for war.
Time for negotiations is over.
Took them long enough. This should have been done decades ago.
I can never tell if Witkoff is actually achieving he administration’s goals or just getting in the way.
This doesn’t seem to be his A game
You can’t negotiate with people who don’t want to negotiate
His A game is getting Qatar to bail him out of bad real estate deals, helping it invest in U.S. assets & pulling the rug out from under Israel.
The Israeli government should proceed until there is not one single member of Hamas alive or in prison. To do anything less is to invite more terrorist attacks against Israel. Next force the Palestinians across the border to Egypt. Or better yet fly them all to Iran. Let Iran house and feed them.
The “Palestinians” have historically caused headaches for the countries they have moved to, which is why nobody wants them – not Jordan, not Egypt, not Turkey, not anybody. As for your idea, I think it’s a good one. There’s lots of wide open spaces in Iran. They can distract the Persians for a while.
.
They waited till Trump left the area
Well, now we know why Trump didn’t visit Israel…
Maybe
”However, there is currently no agreement, as Hamas still insists on a permanent end to the war.”
“Permanent end?” You, know, like where Hamas recognizes the legitimacy of the existence of Israel, and the two sides live in peace forever? Tell me another one. For Hamas, “permanent end to the war” is better translated as “hudna on our terms.”
For their part the Jews are delivering on the “permanent end to the war” bit 😂
Israel. About 80% of us are Jews. Our army also includes Druze, Bedouins & Israeli Arabs.
I’m all in favor of a permanent end to the war, so long as that means a permanent end of Hamas & everyone who aided them. How much of Gaza survives that is up to the Gazans.
”However, there is currently no agreement, as Hamas still insists on a permanent end to the war.”
Then IDF, give unto them “a permanent end to the war,” along with eternal peace.
Amen
Not sure at all that their graves & afterlife will exactly be peaceful.
gazans fled to boston etc to re start the pogroms
Somehow the arabs never learned that losers don’t get to dictate terms to the winner of a war.
doesnt stop the dnc in america
But it will “make them feel unsafe,” like almost everything else does.
True, but, the Arab invaders from Arabia (dishonestly re-branded in Gaza and the West Bank as “Palestinians”) have had European leftists and American Dhimmi-crats perennially advocating on their behalf, which has emboldened them and reinforced their commitment to wage perpetual Islamic “holy war” against Israeli Jews.
Godspeed. Get every terrorist. Pray for the civilians.
crush them, kill them all. put their heads on pikes as a reminder.
The “reward” for genocidal, Islamofascist/Muslim terrorist murders, rapes, kidnappings and other assorted atrocities should be the permanent loss of the Arab invaders from Arabia’s (Fakestinian) territory.
Hamas doesn’t seem to have gotten the memo that Israel has decided to remove the effectiveness of Hamas’ hostage taking strategy.
Vijeta, I always look forward to your informative posts! Thank you!
God speed IDF!