Eyal Zamir Vows to Demilitarize Gaza and Dismantle Hamas

Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir toured the Gaza Strip on Tuesday to review operational activities and brief commanders on the security situation. During the visit, Zamir reaffirmed the military's primary objectives of demilitarizing the territory and dismantling Hamas through the systematic targeting of the group's leadership and infrastructure. He stated that the IDF has abandoned previous security concepts in favor of a strategy that rejects the containment of threats and prevents enemies from rebuilding capabilities.

Zamir vowed that all participants in the October 7 massacre will be hunted down until they are eliminated. These declarations occur despite a US-backed ceasefire that took effect in October 2025, though violence has persisted, including an incident on Monday that Gazan authorities reported caused five deaths.

While Hamas has endorsed a roadmap from President Donald Trump's Board of Peace to hand over weapons to a Palestinian technocratic committee, Israel refuses to withdraw its forces until Hamas is fully disarmed. Recent reports indicate the Israeli army has limited its operations to removing imminent threats or targeting October 7 perpetrators due to pressure from the United States. Zamir noted that the IDF continues to operate across multiple fronts, including Lebanon, Syria, and Iran, while acknowledging the significant burden placed on reservists.