Israel’s entire standing army reportedly deployed to Gaza | ABC NEWS

The Israel Defense Forces say they're

intensifying their offensive inside

Gaza, part of an operation they're

calling Gideon's chariots. The IDF chief

of staff has visited troops in the

southern city of Khan Ununus where he

told them that they have severely

degraded the capabilities of Hamas uh

and that they are not there to fight an

endless war. This is as Israeli media

report that every standing infantry and

armored brigade of the IDF is now

deployed to Gaza, marking the biggest

commitment uh since the peak of the war

last year. Israeli military figures are

estimating that this new offensive will

last around two months and the goal is

for Israel's military to directly

control around 70% of the Gaza Strip.

The Gaza media office, which is part of

the Hamasrun government, says the

Israeli military already controls

77% of Gaza, either through direct

military presence, uh, evacuation

orders, or ongoing bombardment. And all

of this is occurring uh in a context of

very very difficult conditions uh for

the Gazin population where Israel has

been blocking the entry of food into

Gaza until allowing a very small amount

to come into the strip in recent days.

Uh aid groups say it's vastly

insufficient. Um but some of that food

is starting to filter out into the

population. And this week, reports are

suggesting that the Israeli government

is preparing to implement a new aid

delivery mechanism that it's been

planning for some time. This would see

the Israeli military supervise areas in

the south of the Gaza Strip where

private contractors, including private

security contractors, would distribute

aid to certain people in Gaza. Uh,

Israel says this plan will alleviate the

suffering in Gaza caused by food

shortages without allowing Hamas to take

any of the food that comes into Gaza.

But humanitarian groups, including the

UN, have condemned the plan, saying it's

it's gravely in breach of humanitarian

principles and could allow Israel uh to

use aid as a means to achieve military

goals.