Omanghana
Israel’s armed forces will maintain a proactive and forward-deployed posture in the Gaza Strip to prevent new threats from emerging along the country’s border, military Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said Wednesday.
Zamir made the remarks during an operational assessment and tour of the enclave with senior commanders from the Israel Defense Forces’ Southern Command.
He said Israeli operations had significantly weakened Hamas and altered the security situation around communities near Gaza. The military would continue identifying and removing threats rather than waiting for armed groups to rebuild their capabilities, he added.
“The IDF will continue to operate proactively,” Zamir said, stressing that Israel would not allow another cross-border threat resembling the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023, to develop.
The military chief also reiterated Israel’s commitment to pursuing members of Hamas’ elite Nukhba force and others accused of participating in the attacks. He described the effort to locate those involved as a permanent mission that would continue alongside other security operations.
According to the IDF, recent operations have targeted several Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad figures allegedly connected to the October 7 assault and the subsequent detention of Israeli hostages. The claims could not be independently verified.
Zamir said Israel’s military planning extends beyond Gaza and must account for threats across several fronts. He described the coming period as important for rebuilding combat strength, improving operational readiness and preparing troops for possible escalation elsewhere.
His comments come amid diplomatic efforts to determine Gaza’s political and security future. International mediators have promoted proposals involving Hamas’ disarmament, an Israeli military withdrawal and the possible deployment of an international stabilization force.
However, Israeli military and political leaders have resisted withdrawing from strategic areas before arrangements are in place to prevent Hamas and other armed groups from rebuilding. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained that a complete withdrawal will not occur until Hamas is fully disarmed.
The Israeli position has raised questions about how long its forces intend to remain inside Gaza and whether a forward military presence can be reconciled with international proposals for transferring security responsibilities to another authority.
Palestinians and international humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned that continued military operations and territorial restrictions could worsen civilian suffering, delay reconstruction and prolong the displacement of Gaza’s population.
Despite the diplomatic pressure, Zamir’s remarks indicate that Israel’s military leadership intends to preserve operational freedom inside the enclave. The eventual scale and duration of that presence will depend on negotiations over disarmament, governance and Gaza’s postwar security structure.
Source: Omanghana
