Table Stakes - May 26th

Good morning everyone,

I’m Daniel, and welcome to Table Stakes!

Here’s a look at today’s topics:

• Israel Launches Full Invasion Of Gaza

• Russia’s Ballistic Upgrade

• Congo Eyes Mineral Deal With America

Israel Launches Full Throttle Attack in Gaza

_{By: Daniel Murrah, Staff Writer for Atlas}

On May 24, 2025, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) sent all of its active infantry and armored brigades to the Gaza Strip. This was the biggest escalation in the ongoing confrontation with Hamas. Israel's Security Cabinet gave the go-ahead for "Operation Gideon's Chariots" on May 4, 2025. This is the biggest ground offensive in Gaza since the conflict got worse in October 2023. Local news outlets, such as The Times of Israel and Israel Hayom, say that the deployment includes tens of thousands of soldiers from nine regular brigades, such as Divisions 98, 162, 252, 143, and 36, who are working in northern Gaza and southern Khan Yunis.

The IDF has clear and ambitious goals: to destroy Hamas's military and governance infrastructure, both above and below ground, while also putting pressure on the group to free Israeli detainees and give up its weaponry. The goal of the operation is to keep Israel in control of the areas it has taken over so that Hamas can't set up shop again. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister, and Israel Katz, the Defense Minister, have both said that the campaign is very important for Israel's national security. Netanyahu has turned down ceasefire agreements that don't ensure full Israeli authority over Gaza. Bridges for Peace says that the IDF's plan for this operation is part of a larger multi-front struggle, with Gaza and Iran as the main areas of focus.

The IDF has ordered tens of thousands of people from Gaza to leave conflict zones in the north and go to safer locations in the south to protect civilians. This action is meant to cut off Hamas fighters and make the lines of battle clearer. Ground News calls the deployment "all-in," which means that it will be a long and aggressive campaign that will persist for several months. This raises concerns about its humanitarian and geopolitical effects.

A Humanitarian Crisis Growing

The escalation has made the already terrible humanitarian situation in Gaza even worse. The Health Ministry in Gaza said that since October 7, 2023, more than 53,900 people have died and thousands more have been hurt, including a lot of women and children. Al Jazeera and Deutsche Welle say that hundreds more people have died in the last several days. The United Nations has made strong warnings about the possibility of famine, especially among babies, because Israel's blockade makes it hard for people to get food, medication, and humanitarian goods. The UN Secretary-General has called the situation "beyond description" and "inhumane," and he wants a rapid and permanent truce.

People from other countries have quickly and harshly spoken out. The New York Times says that Western allies, such as the UK, France, and Canada, have called the IDF's tactics "disproportionate" and "egregious." If Israel doesn't stop the offensive and make it easier for humanitarian aid to get in, these countries have said they will impose penalties. The blockade, which has made people very angry, has been called a kind of collective punishment by many international groups, including Yemen's Houthi movement, which has said it will step up its attacks on Israel in response.

The Houthis, with Iran's help, have called their missile and drone attacks on Israeli targets like Ben Gurion Airport and shipping channels in the Red Sea a direct retaliation to the Gaza offensive. According to Reuters and Al Jazeera, Houthi commander Abdulmalik al-Houthi has said that his organization is "on the trigger" and ready to escalate things even more if Israel keeps up its campaign. These strikes have stopped Israeli air traffic and business, forced millions of people into bomb shelters, and shown how the Gaza conflict has affected the whole region.

Strategic Considerations

The IDF's full-scale deployment to Gaza has bigger effects on the Middle East, making the conflict a key point in Israel's war on multiple fronts. The operation is not just a reaction to Hamas; it is also a strategic move in light of rising tensions with Iran and its allies, such as the Houthis and Hezbollah. Israel Hayom and PBS report that the Houthi movement is getting more involved. This shows how the Iran-led "axis of resistance" is increasing, since it has opened a new front in the battle by attacking Israeli territory and shipping routes with missiles and drones.

The Houthis' campaign, which is backed by Iranian technology, has shown that it can withstand U.S. and Israeli bombings on their infrastructure in Yemen. Reuters reports that their capacity to block trade routes in the Red Sea has sparked worries about maritime safety and the economy. The Times of Israel says that the group's acts are strongly linked to the Gaza conflict. For example, their attacks get worse when the IDF is active and stop when the IDF is not.

The Israeli government is still strong, and Netanyahu and Katz say that the operation will go on until Hamas is completely defeated. But Israel's position is getting harder because of the Houthi threat, the humanitarian disaster, and the mounting criticism from the rest of the world. Al Jazeera reports that ceasefire talks between the Houthis and the U.S. mediated by Oman have not gone very well. The Houthis have made it clear that their strikes on Israel are not part of any ceasefire accords.

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