'We are in a marathon, not a sprint' – IDF prepares for long-term Gaza City operation; eases burden on reservists to prevent attrition

The Israeli military is adjusting the schedule for both active duty and reservist soldiers in the upcoming Operation Gideon’s Chariots II in an effort to reduce attrition, Ynet News reported on Sunday. 

Among the measures the IDF plans are more frequent rotation of regular battalions, offering reservists “week-by-week” service, and avoiding curfews or the cancellation of planned vacations abroad.

“We want to reduce attrition. This is a marathon, not a sprint," Ynet quoted an IDF official as saying. 

The report added that the IDF is working to apply lessons from the early stages of the Gaza ground campaign to prevent burnout among active-duty and reserve soldiers, even as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pressures the military to launch the new offensive quickly. 

The IDF is reportedly willing to extend Operation Gideon’s Chariots II by six months if it can reduce attrition. The military is also preparing to rotate its armored vehicles on a more frequent basis to keep them in top condition for the maneuvers. 

The nearly two-year war – one of the longest conflicts in Israel’s history – has placed immense strain on reservists, who have been called to serve longer and more frequent tours as the conflict dragged on and new fronts emerged.

The military estimates that a large part of the regular service commanders who are participating in the Gaza operation are relatively new in their positions and did not participate in fighting in Gaza. This could bring renewed energy to the situation, as the commanders may look to prove themselves in the fighting to capture Gaza City. 

"The event will be managed wisely and will not manage us,” IDF sources told Ynet over the weekend. "There will be organized schedules, soldiers will go home, see their commanders, and we will not repeat the mistakes that were made at the beginning of the war.” 

"There will also be consideration for reservists, and we will try to take soldiers out for holiday vacations,” they added. “We are in a marathon, not a sprint.” 

As part of its new leave policy, the IDF is working to accommodate reservists during the upcoming Gaza City maneuvers. One official told Ynet that efforts are being made to honor vacations already booked for the Fall feasts, while commanders were instructed to be as flexible as possible in granting time off for family, work, or studies, noting that “even if he comes only for a week or two, it will help.” The military aims to implement a “week-by-week” model, allowing reservists a week at home during their service, with no penalties for those unable to report after months of repeated call-ups.

As part of Operation Gideon’s Chariots II, reserve units are expected to replace regular battalions in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) to free up the regular battalions for service in the Gaza Strip. 

The IDF is reportedly planning to capture Gaza City in stages, aiming to block Hamas from moving fighters or weapons into the area. The military is also bracing for the possibility that Hamas will attempt to transfer hostages into its Gaza City strongholds to use them as human shields.

In order to minimize the risk of harm to the hostages, commanders will have frequently updated maps indicating areas where the hostages are believed to be held. According to Ynet, the IDF is willing to risk the failure of completely defeating Hamas in those areas, in order to preserve the lives of the hostages and keep alive the possibility of a future deal to release them.