On his first day in office, the incoming Chief of Staff, Major General Eyal Zamir, approved attack plans for the Southern Command in anticipation of a potential renewal of fighting against Hamas. Security assessments indicate that Hamas is organizing for a campaign during the ceasefire, and the planned military move is inevitable.
We Are Determined to Restore the Trust of Residents in the IDF
Yesterday, Zamir met with heads of local authorities in the Gaza border area, including Sha’ar HaNegev, Sdot Negev, Eshkol, Sderot, and Hof Ashkelon. During the meeting, the Chief of Staff thanked them for their close cooperation with the IDF and emphasized the army’s commitment to the security of southern residents. Throughout the day, he also entered Gaza and met with soldiers from the Haredi, Netzach Yehuda Battalion.
“We Are Determined to Restore the Trust of Residents in the IDF, Eliminate the Hamas Threat, and Bring the Hostages Home,” he noted. Zamir’s comments on the need for a complete military resolution against Hamas, unlike the statements of his predecessor, Herzi Halevi, indicate the clear direction in which the IDF is operating: continuing ground fighting throughout the Gaza Strip until achieving a decisive military victory.
Leading the IDF to Victory
During his speech on Wednesday at the Chief of Staff changeover ceremony, Zamir said, “The mission assigned to me starting today is clear: to lead the IDF to victory. As it is written in the Book of Psalms, ‘I will pursue my enemies and overtake them; I will not return until they are consumed.’ In cooperation with all security branches, we will strike with tremendous force against anyone trying to harm the State of Israel and its citizens.”
The new Chief of Staff also addressed the situation in the south and stated, “I see restoring public trust in the IDF as a critical mission. The IDF will continue to investigate itself courageously and thoroughly. We will learn, take lessons, and grow. My brothers-in-arms, citizens of Israel, hard days are still ahead of us, but I am confident that, in the end, better days will come.”
Operational Limitations Due to Hostages
According to a report on Walla, the IDF clarified to the political leadership that any renewed offensive plan for Gaza would be under significant operational limitations, especially in areas where there is a likelihood of hostages being present. Several brigades, including reserve units, have already prepared for a ground attack plan for the Gaza Strip, which will integrate powerful fire assaults from the Air Force.
In response to the recent ceasefire, Hamas has reorganized over the past few weeks to ready for combat against Israel. Intelligence assessments indicate that the terrorist organization is leveraging lessons learned from previous combat rounds, setting dozens of new explosive zones, deploying thousands of terrorists in the city of Gaza after returning from the southern Strip, calibrating rocket launchers, and restructuring its fighting frameworks.
