IDF Chief: Army Moving Forward With Gaza City Operation

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir announced Thursday that the military is advancing with its plans to seize control of Gaza City, speaking during a visit to troops stationed in Khan Younis in southern Gaza.

“We are advancing with the efforts for action in Gaza City. We already have forces operating on the outskirts of the city, and additional forces will join them later,” Zamir told soldiers from the Kfir Infantry Brigade and the 188th Armored Brigade, who yesterday repelled a Hamas attack on their base.

“Our missions remain the release of the hostages and the defeat of Hamas; we will not rest and will not stop until we complete them. Achieving these missions is essential for our future and for our values as a society,” he said.

Zamir stressed that Hamas has suffered a major setback. “From the terror army we experienced on October 7, it has become a guerrilla organization. We will continue to strike Hamas everywhere, pursue them as long as necessary and wherever necessary,” he declared.

On the issue of the 60,000 reservists called up for the Gaza City campaign, Zamir noted, “We call them only when needed. I am certain they will show up until the mission is completed.”

He added that the IDF is working closely with Israel’s political leadership: “We are discussing with the political echelon the plans going forward and creating the best operational achievements on the battlefield in order to present them with the widest range of options.”