For nearly two years, the conflict between Israel and Hamas has dominated global headlines. But now, in the spring of 2025, the war has entered a new and even darker phase. On May 18, 2025, Israel launched a sweeping ground and air operation across the Gaza Strip with a declared goal of ending Hamas once and for all. The offensive, dubbed Operation Gideon’s Chariots, has set off a fresh wave of destruction, humanitarian crisis, and international condemnation.
A New Phase of Total War
Announced on May 18th, Operation Gideon’s Chariots marks the most expansive and destructive phase of Israel’s war effort to date. Involving simultaneous assaults by land, air, and sea, the operation aims to:
- Destroy Hamas militarily
- Dismantle its governance apparatus
- Take control of nearly all of Gaza
- Isolate and screen the civilian population
Israel has openly deprioritized the return of hostages, choosing instead to focus on overwhelming Hamas through total territorial domination. Infantry divisions and armored units have surged into cities like Deir al-Balah, Rafah, Khan Younis, and Gaza City. Satellite imagery confirms widespread devastation. Israeli forces are now moving block-by-block, clearing buildings, sealing off tunnel networks, and flattening any remaining infrastructure.
A Humanitarian Collapse
This military campaign is unfolding against the backdrop of a collapsing humanitarian situation. Gaza has been under a complete aid blockade for more than 10 weeks, and although some deliveries have resumed, they remain wholly inadequate. The newly established Gaza Humanitarian Foundation—a U.S.-backed distribution network—has raised serious ethical concerns:
- Aid recipients must submit to biometric screening
- Facial recognition tools identify potential Hamas sympathizers
- Major aid organizations have boycotted the foundation
Even Jake Wood, the Foundation’s former executive director, resigned before operations began, warning that it would not be allowed to operate independently.
Daily Carnage from the Sky
Since May 18, Israeli air raids have intensified. Key events include:
- 670 airstrikes in a single night, killing over 400
- A strike on a school sheltering families (May 20)
- A strike on a hospital (May 23)
- The death of nine children from a single family in Khan Younis (May 24)
- Another school strike killing 36 (May 26)
Each day brings dozens to hundreds of casualties. Civilian infrastructure is routinely targeted. The number of functioning hospitals, schools, and shelters has dwindled to nearly zero.
Mounting International Condemnation
Israel’s conduct has drawn condemnation even from its closest allies:
- UK has suspended trade negotiations
- France, Canada, and UK issued a joint statement warning of “concrete actions” if Israel doesn’t cease hostilities
- Spain has labeled Israel a “genocidal state”
- Germany has publicly acknowledged the violation of humanitarian law
Most shockingly, even the United States has begun to shift. Former President Trump (still a key political actor) has distanced himself from Netanyahu, skipping Israel in a high-profile Middle East tour and reportedly urging a de-escalation behind closed doors.
Allegations of War Crimes
On May 24, the Associated Press published a damning report alleging that IDF soldiers have used Palestinian civilians as human shields, a tactic Israel has long condemned Hamas for. According to whistleblowers:
- Civilians were forced to enter potentially booby-trapped buildings
- They were referred to as “mosquitoes”
- This practice allegedly occurred in nearly every platoon
A separate group of former Israeli soldiers has corroborated these findings. Israel denies the claims, but the accusations add further fuel to the growing international outrage.
Public Opinion Turns Inward
Inside Israel, opposition to the war is growing. Recent polls show:
- 70% of Israelis want an end to the war in exchange for hostage releases
- Only 25% support a long-term occupation of Gaza
- 55% believe Netanyahu’s main goal is to stay in power, not win the war
Statements from former Israeli military leaders are becoming increasingly blunt. Former IDF deputy commander Yair Golan said Israel risks becoming a “pariah state”. Others, like ex-defense minister Moshe Ya’alon, accused the Netanyahu government of adopting policies that amount to “government-sanctioned destruction.”
A Skyrocketing Death Toll
As of early May, the Gaza Health Ministry reported 53,000 deaths. But new research from The Lancet and The Economist suggests that:
- The real toll may be 77,000 to 109,000 deaths
- That could equal 5% of Gaza’s pre-war population
- Counting methods show little overlap between official sources
This would make the Israel-Hamas conflict one of the deadliest regional wars of the 21st century.
A War With No End In Sight
Despite the carnage, there is little indication that the war will end soon. Netanyahu is still under indictment in three corruption cases and faces mounting political pressure. Many now believe that extending the war serves to delay elections scheduled for 2026.
If that is indeed the strategy, then the implications are grim. Mass expulsion of Palestinians, indefinite occupation, and further international isolation all remain on the table.
The Israel-Hamas war has long since ceased to be a war of territory or ideology. It is now a war of survival—for both a battered civilian population in Gaza and a cornered political leadership in Israel. And unless something dramatic changes, the world should prepare for an even deeper phase of chaos to come.
