A classified IDF document circulated within the military has concluded that Operation “Gideon’s Chariots” — the army’s name for the major offensive that was launched against Hamas in May and ended last month — failed to meet its core objectives, a report said Sunday.

The document, partially published by Channel 12 news, firmly asserts that the operation did not succeed in either of its goals — to topple Hamas and free the hostages. The material was distributed last week by the Operational Information Center of the IDF’s ground forces and has already been seen by several brigades, according to the network.

Officers who reviewed the document reportedly expressed worry that it augurs badly for the IDF’s imminent push into Gaza City, and doubted whether the army had drawn the necessary lessons ahead of the fresh offensive, codenamed “Gideon’s Chariots II.”

While IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and other senior officers have publicly praised the Gideon’s Chariots operation, the internal assessment bluntly states that “Israel made every possible mistake” in waging the campaign, according to the report.

It accuses the army of........

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