IDF Chief of Staff Says Troops Will Continue to Operate in Gaza
JAKARTA - The Israeli military chief confirmed that his troops would continue to operate in the Palestinian Gaza Strip, as attacks on the area increased amid efforts to reach an agreement to achieve peace.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, on Wednesday said his country's forces would continue to operate "proactively" in the Gaza Strip, pledging to "continue to hunt down those responsible" for the Hamas attack on October 7 that triggered the war.
"In the Gaza Strip, we have hit Hamas, weakened it significantly, and fundamentally changed the security reality," Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said while visiting troops in Gaza, as quoted in a military statement, reported Al Arabiya from AFP (6/8).
"The IDF will continue to operate proactively and in accordance with the principles we have set - namely, eliminating threats and, in any situation, protecting the people and their citizens and ensuring their security," he said.
It is known that the President of the United States last week announced an agreement to disarm the Palestinian militant group, including Haas, followed by the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Palestinian enclave, an agreement that he described as a "historic" step towards peace and security to be implemented gradually.
He said the agreement was a "major milestone" in the implementation of his 20-point plan for Gaza, adding that the region would eventually be ruled by a "new Palestinian government that will work closely with the Peace Council to help the Palestinian people," as quoted by Anadolu.
Meanwhile, Hamas official Ghazi Hamad said the group agreed to a comprehensive peace deal after consulting with various Palestinian factions, with the aim of ending the war and saving Palestinians from the dire humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip.
Hamad said the agreement was reached amid the "difficult and harsh" conditions faced by the Palestinian people, explaining that the priority was to protect civilians and end the humanitarian suffering that had lasted for months.
Last weekend, Israel stepped up its attacks on the Gaza Strip, a move that drew widespread condemnation.
Later, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a short video that his troops would not withdraw from Gaza before the disarmament of Hamas was completed, quoted by CNN.
"We will not back down from our current position until Hamas is completely disarmed. That's the first point. Second, we instruct the IDF to do whatever it takes to protect itself, protect our territory, and protect our citizens," Netanyahu said.
Israeli sources told CNN, the IDF can now only operate in the face of a direct threat in Gaza, while targeted assassination operations now require the approval of the Chief of Staff (IDF).