diff --git a/python/python/lance/dataset.py b/python/python/lance/dataset.py
index d2d03bd76a..988b8e2322 100644
--- a/python/python/lance/dataset.py
+++ b/python/python/lance/dataset.py
@@ -751,6 +751,10 @@ def _commit(
         _Dataset.commit(base_uri, operation._to_inner(), read_version, commit_lock)
         return LanceDataset(base_uri)
 
+    @property
+    def optimize(self) -> "DatasetOptimizer":
+        return DatasetOptimizer(self)
+
 
 # LanceOperation is a namespace for operations that can be applied to a dataset.
 class LanceOperation:
@@ -816,17 +820,35 @@ def _to_inner(self):
 
     @dataclass
     class Rewrite(BaseOperation):
-        old_fragments: Iterable[FragmentMetadata]
-        new_fragments: Iterable[FragmentMetadata]
+        """
+        Operation that rewrites fragments but does not change the data within them.
 
-        def __post_init__(self):
-            LanceOperation._validate_fragments(self.old_fragments)
-            LanceOperation._validate_fragments(self.new_fragments)
+        This is for rearranging the data.
+
+        The data are grouped, such that each group contains the old fragments
+        and the new fragments those are rewritten into.
+        """
+
+        groups: Iterable[RewriteGroup]
+
+        @dataclass
+        class RewriteGroup:
+            old_fragments: Iterable[FragmentMetadata]
+            new_fragments: Iterable[FragmentMetadata]
+
+            def __post_init__(self):
+                LanceOperation._validate_fragments(self.old_fragments)
+                LanceOperation._validate_fragments(self.new_fragments)
 
         def _to_inner(self):
-            raw_old_fragments = [f._metadata for f in self.old_fragments]
-            raw_new_fragments = [f._metadata for f in self.new_fragments]
-            return _Operation.rewrite(raw_old_fragments, raw_new_fragments)
+            groups = [
+                (
+                    [f._metadata for f in g.old_fragments],
+                    [f._metadata for f in g.new_fragments],
+                )
+                for g in self.groups
+            ]
+            return _Operation.rewrite(groups)
 
     @dataclass
     class Merge(BaseOperation):
@@ -847,10 +869,6 @@ class Restore(BaseOperation):
         def _to_inner(self):
             return _Operation.restore(self.version)
 
-    @property
-    def optimize(self) -> "DatasetOptimizer":
-        return DatasetOptimizer(self)
-
 
 class ScannerBuilder:
     def __init__(self, ds: LanceDataset):
diff --git a/python/python/tests/test_dataset.py b/python/python/tests/test_dataset.py
index 50f7b8a3b9..d97c903021 100644
--- a/python/python/tests/test_dataset.py
+++ b/python/python/tests/test_dataset.py
@@ -460,7 +460,8 @@ def test_rewrite_with_commit(tmp_path: Path):
     to_be_rewrote = [lf.metadata for lf in lance.dataset(base_dir).get_fragments()]
 
     fragment = lance.fragment.LanceFragment.create(base_dir, combined)
-    rewrite = lance.LanceOperation.Rewrite(to_be_rewrote, [fragment])
+    group = lance.LanceOperation.Rewrite.RewriteGroup(to_be_rewrote, [fragment])
+    rewrite = lance.LanceOperation.Rewrite([group])
 
     dataset = lance.LanceDataset._commit(base_dir, rewrite, read_version=1)
 
diff --git a/python/src/dataset.rs b/python/src/dataset.rs
index decb3985d2..6ccf865adb 100644
--- a/python/src/dataset.rs
+++ b/python/src/dataset.rs
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ use arrow_array::{Float32Array, RecordBatch};
 use arrow_data::ArrayData;
 use arrow_schema::Schema as ArrowSchema;
 use lance::arrow::as_fixed_size_list_array;
-
+use lance::dataset::transaction::RewriteGroup;
 use lance::dataset::{
     fragment::FileFragment as LanceFileFragment, scanner::Scanner as LanceScanner,
     transaction::Operation as LanceOperation, Dataset as LanceDataset, ReadParams, Version,
@@ -116,16 +116,15 @@ impl Operation {
     }
 
     #[staticmethod]
-    fn rewrite(
-        old_fragments: Vec<FragmentMetadata>,
-        new_fragments: Vec<FragmentMetadata>,
-    ) -> PyResult<Self> {
-        let old_fragments = into_fragments(old_fragments);
-        let new_fragments = into_fragments(new_fragments);
-        let op = LanceOperation::Rewrite {
-            old_fragments,
-            new_fragments,
-        };
+    fn rewrite(groups: Vec<(Vec<FragmentMetadata>, Vec<FragmentMetadata>)>) -> PyResult<Self> {
+        let groups = groups
+            .into_iter()
+            .map(|(old_fragments, new_fragments)| RewriteGroup {
+                old_fragments: into_fragments(old_fragments),
+                new_fragments: into_fragments(new_fragments),
+            })
+            .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+        let op = LanceOperation::Rewrite { groups };
         Ok(Self(op))
     }