IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir conducted a high-level review and operational tour on Wednesday within the Gaza Strip. He was joined by Southern Command head Maj. Gen. Yaniv Asor, 162nd Division commander Brig. Gen. Sagiv Dahan, brigade leaders, and other senior IDF officials.
As part of his visit, Zamir met with commanders from the Givati Brigade, expressing gratitude for their efforts on the battlefield. He also surveyed military activity around the Beit Hanoun region, observing live combat operations underway.
Addressing soldiers during the visit, Zamir declared: “We will ensure that Gaza no longer poses a threat to the State of Israel for generations to come. Sadly, this war comes with a heavy cost; two days ago, we lost three soldiers from the 401st Brigade. It is a painful and heavy price we have to pay in order to defend ourselves. We continue to strike and eliminate Hamas terrorists. In recent weeks alone, we have struck over 1,300 terrorists, some of whom were Nukhba terrorists from October 7th. We will continue striking terrorists relentlessly until the defeat and dismantlement of Hamas. Your achievements are significant. We already have operational control of 75% of the Gaza Strip.”
He went on to underscore the critical moment ahead: “we are approaching a very crucial crossroads. In the coming days, we will know whether or not we have an agreement. I want to say to you: if there is a deal and the hostages return, it will be thanks to your combat, first and foremost, because of your combat. If an agreement is reached, we will pause and reposition along lines defined by the political echelon. If no deal is reached, my directive to Southern Command is to intensify and expand combat operations as much as possible, beyond what we are currently doing. We will operate in additional areas and continue activities just as we have until now.”
Zamir also invoked the memory of Lt. Hadar Goldin, a Givati Brigade officer whose body remains held in Gaza since the 2014 war, emphasizing the ongoing commitment to bring him and other captives home. “In his actions, Hadar is a symbol of bravery, modesty, and humility. We have a great obligation to bring him home. This week marks 4,000 days since Operation Protective Edge. We are making tremendous efforts to bring Hadar back to his family, and we will not rest or stop until we bring him and all the other hostages home.”
{Matzav.com Israel}