Leaked Israeli army report reveals ‘Chariots of Gideon’ operation failed in Gaza

A leaked report from the Israeli army has revealed that the major Gaza offensive conducted between May and August, known as Chariots of Gideon, failed to achieve its objectives. The report also expresses concerns that the army is unprepared to capture Gaza City.

The document, partially published by Channel 12, clearly states that the operation did not succeed in any of its primary goals, such as overthrowing Hamas or rescuing hostages. The report was distributed last week by the army’s Operational Information Center and has been reviewed by several brigades.

Some officers who reviewed the document emphasized that it is a negative sign for the Israeli army’s upcoming operation in Gaza City, expressing doubts about whether the army has learned the necessary lessons before the new campaign. The new operation is planned under the codename Chariots of Gideon 2.

Internal report: Israel made every possible mistake

Although Chief of Staff Major General Eyal Zamir and other senior officers publicly praised the operation, the internal report clearly assesses that Israel “made every possible mistake” while conducting the campaign.

According to the document, the army allegedly acted contrary to its own military doctrine by “providing resources to the enemy through humanitarian aid,” “failing to apply time pressure,” “mismanaging resources,” and “ultimately depleting its own forces while weakening international support.” The report states that Hamas, on the other hand, had all the necessary conditions to survive and succeed, including resources, safe areas, and suitable combat methods.

Hamas’s advantages and Israel’s strategic errors

The report suggests that Israel operated with a “logic of deterrence instead of decisive victory,” aiming to sustain the conflict and reach an eventual ceasefire and hostage agreement, which was exploited by Hamas. It also highlights that inefficiencies in aid distribution made it easier for Hamas to conduct a global propaganda campaign by accusing Israel of starving the people of Gaza.

The document notes that the army conducted slow maneuvers in the same areas and prioritized preventing casualties over mission success. Exhaustion, personnel fatigue, equipment wear, and a lack of preparation for guerrilla warfare are cited as primary reasons for the failure.

The report also claims the operation led Hamas to backtrack on its demands regarding the hostages. Last month, Hamas had accepted a phased hostage-ceasefire proposal similar to the Witkoff proposal previously approved by Israel. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government stated it was not interested in partial deals and demanded a “comprehensive agreement.”

The Israeli army has denied the allegations in the report, announcing that the operation met its designated objectives and that they continue to work toward achieving the overall goals of the war. Military officials stated that the leaked document was “distributed without permission or approval from the relevant authorities” and that the matter is under investigation.