IDF to launch comprehensive probes into Gaza ground operations, broader war

The Israel Defense Forces is preparing to launch a broad series of investigations into its ground-based military operations during the two-year war against Hamas in Gaza, following the completion of probes into the failures surrounding the October 7, 2023, onslaught.

In the wake of a senior command conference convened by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir on Monday, the military is taking significant steps toward a systemic review of its operations, The Times of Israel has learned.

The IDF has already conducted initial probes into the events of October 7, and the senior command conference has set the stage for a comprehensive investigation into the broader war, which will include inquiries into operational failures, intelligence shortcomings and strategic decisions.

Specific points of investigation, according to the Ynet news site, will include why no plan was prepared for a full conquest of the Gaza Strip, whether beginning the ground maneuvers in the north was the correct decision, the impact of the presence of hostages on combat operations, and why several key battles dragged on as long as they did.

Israel sent ground troops into northern Gaza in late October 2023, following weeks of airstrikes, and gradually swept southward, conquering Rafah on the Strip’s southern border in May 2024. It continued fighting, sending forces back north several times, until a ceasefire in early October 2025.

The Gaza debriefings will reportedly be divided into six major operational phases, including the initial push into northern Gaza and Gaza City, the capture of Khan Younis, the Rafah operation and coordination with Egypt along the Philadelphi Corridor on the Gaza-Egypt border, repeated operations in Jabalia just north of Gaza City, and two late-war operations dubbed “Gideon’s Chariots A” and “Gideon’s Chariots B,” the latter of which was halted amid ceasefire talks and hostage releases.

The investigations will also reportedly examine intelligence failures related to Hamas’s tunnel network and the need for forces to improvise counter-tunnel tactics during fighting, despite years of prior exposure to the threat.

In addition to addressing the Gaza ground campaign, the probes will focus on the seizure of two refugee camps in the northern West Bank during the war, the report said.

Parallel reviews were said to be planned for the northern front, including the army’s invasion of southern Lebanon in October 2024, defensive measures against Hezbollah, air and covert ground operations in Lebanon, and preparations for a potential invasion by the group’s elite Radwan Force. Operations in southern Syria, which the IDF moved into in December 2024, will also be probed.

The IDF has also reportedly completed internal probes into its 12-day June operation against Iran.

The military’s probes, which are expected to span roughly a year, will involve commanders, oversight teams and experts. The aim is to extract lessons not only from battlefield performance but also from strategic decisions made at the highest levels throughout the war.

Findings are expected to be presented to bereaved families and the public toward the end of 2026, assuming fighting does not resume on one of Israel’s fronts.

In addition to the ongoing internal probes, the IDF said that Zamir emphasized the importance of a multi-year plan to implement the lessons learned from the conflict, alongside updated directives on readiness and alert levels as part of a shift in the IDF’s security doctrine.

“We are in a race of learning and a race of armament — we must keep moving forward,” said Zamir during the senior command conference. “The foundation of the multi-year plan is people. We are addressing them holistically, including within the framework of the upcoming legislative challenges.”

In terms of operational readiness, new directives are set to reinforce alertness levels, training programs, and the restoration of military equipment after extended use during the conflict. The Times of Israel has learned that safety oversight will be tightened, and support systems for wounded soldiers and bereaved families will be strengthened.

Zamir said that IDF investigations are conducted “courageously,” and that the entire nation is watching and expects the IDF to meet its missions. He emphasized that the IDF must continue to improve, implement lessons learned and remain ready to face any future threats.

“The threats have not disappeared — they are changing,” Zamir said. “We have altered the regional strategic balance: The State of Israel is currently at a point of systemic strength and strategic advantage, with the ability to return to fighting at any time if required.”

As part of the ongoing efforts, Zamir said the IDF is establishing a new training center through the Operations Directorate to further investigate the continuation of the war and refine its readiness for future conflicts.