The Second Phase of Gideon’s Chariots 2: Israel Levels Gaza City Ahead of Ground Assault

By Elijah J. Magnier –

The Israeli army has formally announced the start of the second phase of its campaign, “Gideon’s Chariots 2”, confirming that two full divisions are now committed to operations in Gaza City while a third remains on alert, ready to join in. The decision marks the transition from aerial bombardment to a combined arms advance designed not only to capture territory but to fundamentally alter the urban fabric of Gaza. With bombardments intensifying to unprecedented levels, military doctrine and political calculation converge in a strategy that may stretch for at least six months before Gaza City is brought under full occupation.

Every modern military campaign begins with a preparatory bombardment designed to soften resistance, flatten infrastructure, and disorient defenders. The Israeli occupation forces are no exception. Over the past weeks, their air force has systematically destroyed sixty multistorey buildings—structures rising more than seven floors—removing vantage points, command posts, potential strongholds for Hamas fighters, but above all, convincing residents to flee. What remains are lower residential blocks and commercial units, which pose different challenges for mechanised troops advancing through narrow streets and alleys.

The intensity of bombing in recent days signals a classic pre-assault cycle. As artillery and aerial strikes pound urban sectors, the aim is not only to create tactical shock but to prepare the ground for mechanised entry. Israel’s insistence on overwhelming firepower mirrors Soviet tactics in Afghanistan, U.S. approaches in Fallujah and Mosul, and its own occupation of Rafah—reducing the city to rubble before infantry and armour are committed.