The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will persist with proactive operations in the Gaza Strip, according to Eyal Zamir, the chief of the general staff of the Israeli military. Zamir announced the decision following an operational tour on Wednesday, during which he received briefings from several senior Israeli commanders regarding the current situation on the ground.
Reflecting on the progress of the military campaign, Zamir stated that the IDF has successfully struck a blow against Hamas, noting that the group has been significantly weakened and the overall security situation has been altered. He emphasized that the military remains committed to a core principle of eliminating threats and defending Israeli communities and their residents under all circumstances to safeguard their security.
This announcement follows remarks made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday. In a video message, Netanyahu clarified that Israel has not reached an agreement regarding a US-backed proposal that would involve the withdrawal of Israeli forces from territory and the disarmament of Hamas. While acknowledging that President Trump and his team are pursuing a path to demilitarize the militant group, Netanyahu stated that Israel has reviewed the draft and declined to accept it as written, noting that the government has submitted its own comments.
Last week, President Trump’s Board of Peace announced what it described as a historic agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza, intended to facilitate a transition to a new Palestinian government. Jennifer Gavito, a nonresident senior fellow with the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council, suggested that the success of such a proposal would depend heavily on external actors. She noted that Egypt and Qatar would need to exert significant pressure on Hamas to fulfill its commitments, while President Trump would likely need to apply substantial pressure on Prime Minister Netanyahu.
The ongoing conflict began following the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 people and the abduction of 251 hostages. Since then, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has resulted in more than 73,000 deaths, according to figures provided by the Gaza health ministry.
