From chaos to control: Israel redefines the battlefield in Gaza

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have crossed a critical threshold in their campaign against Hamas: more than 50% of Gaza is now under Israeli control. 

This rapid advancement isn’t just another tactical phase — it marks a fundamental turning point, with the IDF clearly aiming to dismantle Hamas’s military and political infrastructure through overwhelming force and sustained momentum.

The operation, intensified under the banner of Gideon’s Chariots, reflects Israel’s growing confidence and determination to bring the war to an end swiftly — and definitively — on its own terms. 

With every kilometer gained and every tunnel shaft collapsed, the IDF is sending a clear message: Hamas will not be allowed to regroup, rearm, or rewrite the rules of engagement.

Even before this week’s renewed offensive, Israel had regained control over roughly half of the Strip following the breakdown of hostage negotiations in March. 

In recent days, the pace has quickened significantly. Warnings from IDF Arabic-language spokesperson Col. Avichai Adraee to civilians in areas like Beit Lahiya and Jabalya are part of a coordinated effort to move noncombatants southward — minimizing civilian casualties while clearing the battlefield of Hamas’s human shields.

Critics may call the campaign harsh, but it’s rooted in strategic necessity. Hamas thrives in chaos, hiding its fighters and weapons among civilians. 

By taking control of territory and managing aid distribution directly, the IDF is not just fighting a terrorist group — it’s systematically uprooting the environment that sustains it.

This week alone, Division 98 eliminated dozens of Hamas operatives in Khan Yunis and struck some 200 terrorist targets, including underground tunnel networks and fortified command posts. These are not symbolic strikes — they are direct hits on the heart of Hamas’s operational capacity.

Israel balances military operations with direct oversight of aid flows

The humanitarian component remains complex. Prior to the January ceasefire, as few as 100,000 to 200,000 Palestinians remained in northern Gaza from a prewar population of 1.2 million. 

Many returned during the lull in fighting, but informed estimates suggest that number is again falling, with civilians heeding IDF calls to evacuate. The Israeli military has cleared more than 120 trucks of humanitarian aid for distribution, despite concerns over theft and misappropriation by armed elements.

Yet the central focus remains military: the separation of Hamas from the civilian population, the dismantling of its infrastructure, and the creation of conditions in which Israel, not Hamas, dictates the terms of what comes next.

The end goal is not a temporary lull or superficial peace — it’s the full dismantling of Hamas’s grip on Gaza and the safe return of Israeli hostages. For their families, diplomacy has delivered little. The IDF’s aggressive push, however, offers the first real hope of a breakthrough.

This is not occupation for occupation’s sake — it’s strategic necessity, executed with clarity and resolve. And it may finally be the path to long-term security, both for Israelis and, ultimately, for a Gaza free from Hamas’s rule.