Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, Chief of the General Staff for the Israel Defense Forces, announced the upcoming phase of the conflict with Hamas on Sunday.
During a field visit to Gaza on Sunday, Zamir addressed IDF soldiers, stating plans to sustain the momentum of “Operation Gideon’s Chariots.”
“Today, we are formally approving the blueprint for the next stage of the war,” Zamir informed battalion leaders and other personnel present on Sunday. He added, “Similar to recent operations conducted in Iran, Yemen, Lebanon, Judea and Samaria, and Gaza, we will persist in reshaping the security landscape.”
He further stated, “We will uphold the impetus of Operation ‘Gideon’s Chariots’ with a concentrated effort on Gaza City. We will persist in our strikes until Hamas is decisively defeated, with the paramount consideration always being the hostages.”
“Soon, we will advance into the subsequent phase of Operation ‘Gideon’s Chariots,’ during which we will intensify strikes against Hamas in Gaza City until its conclusive defeat,” he appended. He emphasized that “the ongoing campaign is not a limited operation; rather, it constitutes an additional dimension within a meticulously planned, long-term strategy, encompassing a multi-front approach aimed at targeting all elements of the axis, with Iran as the primary focus.”
Zamir then expressed gratitude to the soldiers for their service, spanning months and years already completed in Gaza, reiterating that securing the return of the hostages remains their utmost priority.
“You have been engaged in combat for close to two continuous years, achieving remarkable accomplishments that enhance the security of communities bordering the Gaza Strip and all Israeli citizens. I am proud of you,” he conveyed to the troops. “The IDF holds a moral obligation to facilitate the return of the hostages, both those alive and those who have fallen.”
Zamir’s field visit took place less than a week after the Israeli Prime Minister’s office announced plans for Israel to assume complete control over the Gaza Strip for an unspecified duration post-conflict.
This plan, sanctioned by Israel’s Security Cabinet, authorizes Defense Minister Israel Katz to mobilize more than 400,000 military reservists to execute the operation through November 30.