The United Nations reports that 87% of Gaza’s territory — marked in red on evacuation maps — is already under Israeli military control or facing evacuation orders. Now, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are preparing to seize the remaining areas, including Gaza City and Deir al-Balah, in a calculated and relentless campaign.

The IDF’s strategy centers on combined arms assaults, where tanks, armored vehicles, and heavy bulldozers move in tight coordination with advancing infantry. Bulldozers clear debris, breach walls, and offer mobile cover, reducing the risk to ground troops. Tanks lead the way through dangerous streets, absorbing enemy fire and carving a path for soldiers to advance.

Infantry units follow closely, sweeping buildings room by room while tanks and armored vehicles provide suppressive fire and overwatch. The battlefield is divided into “pockets” — small, isolated zones that are encircled, cut off, and systematically cleared before the army pushes forward.

This approach is slow and deliberate — a war of attrition rather than a rapid assault. Each gain is secured and held before the next sector is targeted, minimizing surprises and securing control over urban terrain.

The plan, while militarily precise, has drawn global concern, with critics pointing to the humanitarian cost and the scale of displacement as the IDF’s campaign continues toward full control of Gaza.