Eyal Zamir will also take charge of Israel’s assault on the occupied West Bank [Getty]
The Israeli army’s new chief of staff Eyal Zamir assumed his duties on Wednesday, taking over from former chief Herzi Halevi, who resigned over the military’s failures during the 7 October 2023 attacks.
Zamir, who said that 2025 would be a “year of combat”, is expected to intensify fighting in Gaza, according to Hebrew-language media.
“I accept command of the (Israeli military) with modesty and humility… Hamas has indeed suffered a severe blow, but it has not yet been defeated. The mission is not yet accomplished,” Zamir said at his inauguration on Wednesday.
Israel’s Walla news website reported that Zamir is planning a large-scale ground operation in Gaza to increase pressure on Hamas.Â
Announcing his appointment last month, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had high hopes that Zamir would help achieve “absolute victory” against Hamas.
Zamir will also take charge of Israel’s assault on the occupied West Bank, where the military has attacked cities and refugee camps and deployed tanks in recent weeks for the first time in 20 years.
Zamir was involved in military combat and command during the Second Intifada, which lasted from 2000 to 2005, and served as Netanyahu’s military secretary from 2012 to 2015.
He is the founder of the right-wing think tank Israel Defence and Security Forum, and has advocated for more aggressive action against Iran and its allies.
Israeli media reports, citing Israeli security sources, indicate that Zamir will seek to expand Israel’s ground attacks in Gaza, and to occupy areas of the territory for longer.
A ceasefire has been in place in Gaza since 19 January, allowing for the exchange of 33 Israeli hostages and 5 Thais for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
However, Israeli leaders have threatened a resumption of the war, demanding that the first phase of the truce be extended to bring back the 59 captives that remain in Gaza.
Hamas, meanwhile, has insisted on proceeding to talks on a permanent end to the war before agreeing to any further releases.
On Monday, Israel announced it would be blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza, drawing condemnation and criticism from the UN, rights groups and states allied to Israel.