Israel’s mission against Hamas unfinished, says new military chief

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Israel’s new military chief, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, to mark the official handover of command at the Israel Defense Forces headquarters in Tel Aviv. During the ceremony, Netanyahu stressed that Israel remains fully committed to securing victory in the ongoing multi-front conflict, which erupted following Hamas’s large-scale attack in October 2023.

Netanyahu made it clear that Zamir will play a crucial role in shaping the outcome of the war, noting that the decisions made and actions taken now will have long-lasting effects on the future security and stability of the country.

In his first remarks after assuming his new role, Zamir acknowledged the damage inflicted on Hamas during months of military operations but admitted that the group has not yet been fully neutralized. He described defeating Hamas as a mission still underway and said that eliminating the threat posed by the group remains a top priority for the Israeli military.

The leadership transition comes at a particularly sensitive time, with negotiations over a potential second phase of the fragile ceasefire with Hamas remaining deadlocked. Tensions between both sides continue to simmer, with Israel demanding the complete disarmament of Hamas and the release of all hostages still held in Gaza before agreeing to any long-term truce.

Zamir, who now serves as the IDF’s 24th Chief of Staff, brings decades of military experience to the role. Having first joined the Armored Corps in the mid-1980s, he rose steadily through the ranks, holding senior command roles including leadership of the Southern Command — the area responsible for security along the Gaza border. Most recently, he served as Director-General of the Ministry of Defense, giving him experience working at the highest levels of Israel’s security and defense infrastructure.

His appointment is taking place in the shadow of internal reviews conducted after the October 2023 attack, which exposed severe intelligence and operational failures that left southern Israel vulnerable. While Hamas’s initial assault triggered a devastating Israeli response, including sustained airstrikes and ground operations in Gaza, the group has continued to maintain pockets of resistance, and several hostages remain in captivity.

During the ceremony, Netanyahu expressed full confidence in Zamir’s leadership abilities, citing their previous work together and praising his operational expertise and deep understanding of Israel’s security landscape. The Prime Minister said that under Zamir’s command, the military would continue to adapt to evolving threats while also seizing strategic opportunities to strengthen Israel’s position both regionally and internationally.

As Zamir takes charge, the military faces the dual challenge of ensuring operational success on the ground while also managing mounting international scrutiny over Israel’s conduct during the conflict. Allegations of war crimes and humanitarian violations have been raised by international bodies, adding further complexity to the military’s ongoing operations.

The months ahead will test Zamir’s leadership as the Israeli military attempts to balance the immediate need to protect its citizens with long-term efforts to reshape the security environment in Gaza and across the wider region.