Classified IDF document purports ‘Gideon’s Chariots’ offensive against Hamas failed — report

A classified IDF document being circulated in the military concludes that “Gideon’s Chariots,” the major offensive launched against Hamas in May, failed to meet its core objectives, Channel 12 reports.

Publishing part of the document, the Hebrew network says that it was distributed last week by the Operational Information Center of the army’s ground forces and has already been seen by several brigades. It states that the operation did not succeed in either of its goals to topple Hamas militarily or to free the hostages.

While IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and other senior officers have publicly praised the operation, the internal assessment bluntly states that “Israel made every possible mistake” in waging the campaign.

It accuses the army of acting “contrary to its own military doctrine” by supplying the enemy with resources through humanitarian aid, failing to impose time pressure, mismanaging resources and ultimately exhausting its own forces while eroding international support.

According to the document, Hamas meanwhile enjoyed all the conditions necessary to survive and claim success, including resources, secure territory and a suitable method of fighting.

It cites Israel’s reliance on “deterrence logic rather than decisive victory” by seeking a ceasefire and hostage-release deal with Hamas — and “incompetence” in planning and distributing aid, which it says enabled the terror group to successfully mount a false starvation campaign.

The report criticizes the IDF for maneuvering repeatedly in the same areas at a slow pace, prioritizing to avoid casualties over mission success. It also cites attrition, manpower strain, equipment fatigue, and poor preparation for guerrilla warfare as key reasons for failure.

Channel 12 adds that officers who reviewed the document questioned whether the army had drawn the necessary lessons ahead of its planned push into Gaza City in October.

At the same time, the report notes that many within the military credit the operation with lowering Hamas’s demands in hostage negotiations, with the added pressure reportedly increasing the number of captives the group was willing to release in a deal.