IDF chief says Israel moving from containing to ‘decisively defeating’ Hamas

Head of Israeli military acknowledges disagreements with government, says IDF has established new security frontier between Israel and Gaza.

By World Israel News Staff

The chief of the Israeli military said Thursday that the IDF is shifting its stance towards Hamas from one of containment to total defeat, even as the army’s top officer acknowledges disagreements between himself and the Israeli government.

IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir vowed in a statement Thursday that Israel will “continue to fight on all fronts,” while hinting at a major escalation in the ground campaign in Gaza.

“At this time, we are reaching the final stages of Operation Gideon’s Chariots. We have met the operation’s objectives and even exceeded them.”

Israel, Zamir said, has established a new security zone separating Israel from the populated areas of the Gaza Strip, acting as a buffer. He emphasized, however, that the war against Hamas is poised to transition from operations aimed at containing the terror group to destroying it.

“We now have the capability to maintain a new security boundary, while causing sustained damage to the enemy. We will no longer tolerate containment. We will thwart threats as they form in every sector and continue to act to achieve our objectives.”

“We intend to decisively defeat and collapse Hamas – we will continue to act with our hostages before our eyes, and do everything to bring them home.”

Zamir’s statement was issued hours ahead of a key security cabinet meeting, during which ministers will deliberate on plans to expand the war in Gaza.

One option, favored by the ministers, is the total military occupation of the Gaza Strip, placing the remaining 25% of the coastal enclave under direct Israeli control.

An alternative plan, favored by Zamir, would use IDF ground forces to encircle and isolate key populated areas in Gaza, including Gaza City, without the need for a full occupation and administration of Gaza’s entire civilian population.

The IDF chief acknowledged his disagreements with cabinet ministers, calling the “culture of disagreement” an “inseparable part of the history of the Jewish people” and a “vital component of the organizational culture of the IDF – both internally and externally.”

“We are not dealing in theory – we are dealing with matters of life and death, with the defense of the state, and we do so while looking our soldiers and citizens in the eye.”