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On Wednesday, Israel appointed a new military commander while tensions grew over the shaky ceasefire in Gaza. This situation raised the chances of fighting starting again without a deal to free the remaining hostages held by Hamas.
Eyal Zamir, a former tank commander who retired after 28 years as a Major General, was brought back into service and promoted to Lieutenant General. He took over from General Herzi Halevi, who resigned due to the security failures of October 7, 2023.
“The mission is not yet complete,” Zamir said in a speech as he took command, noting that Hamas still hasn’t been defeated. “We will not forgive, we will not forget. This is an existential war. We will persist in our campaign to bring our hostages home and to defeat our enemies,” he added.
Fighting in Gaza stopped in January thanks to a truce arranged by Qatar and Egypt, with U.S. support. This deal freed 33 Israeli hostages and 5 Thais in exchange for about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
A separate war in southern Lebanon, sparked when Iran-backed Hezbollah fired missiles at Israel after the October 7 attack, has also quieted down under its own ceasefire.
However, Israeli leaders have warned that fighting could restart if no deal is made to bring back the 59 hostages still held. Israeli troops have pulled back from some areas in Gaza, but talks to free the hostages and fully withdraw Israeli forces before ending the war haven’t started.
Israel wants to extend the truce past the Jewish Passover holiday in April to secure the release of the remaining hostages. Hamas, though, insists on discussing a permanent end to the war first before agreeing to free more hostages.
Zamir’s appointment comes as investigations begin into how thousands of Hamas-led terrorists attacked Israeli communities near Gaza on October 7, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. This was one of Israel’s worst military and security failures ever.
Halevi was in charge during Israel’s campaign in Gaza to rescue hostages and destroy Hamas’s military and governing power. But in January, after the Gaza ceasefire was set, he said he’d step down, taking blame for the military’s weak and disorganized response to the October 7 attack.
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On Wednesday, as he handed over command, Halevi called for a broader investigation into the October 7 failures. “The establishment of a state commission of inquiry is necessary and essential – not to place blame, but first and foremost, to understand the root of the problems and allow for correction,” he said.
The Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet security agency have admitted their mistakes allowed the attack to happen. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has so far blocked a wider investigation that would examine his government’s role.
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A separate war in southern Lebanon, sparked when Iran-backed Hezbollah fired missiles at Israel after the October 7 attack, has also quieted down under its own ceasefire.
However, Israeli leaders have warned that fighting could restart if no deal is made to bring back the 59 hostages still held. Israeli troops have pulled back from some areas in Gaza, but talks to free the hostages and fully withdraw Israeli forces before ending the war haven’t started.
Israel wants to extend the truce past the Jewish Passover holiday in April to secure the release of the remaining hostages. Hamas, though, insists on discussing a permanent end to the war first before agreeing to free more hostages.
Zamir’s appointment comes as investigations begin into how thousands of Hamas-led terrorists attacked Israeli communities near Gaza on October 7, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. This was one of Israel’s worst military and security failures ever.
Halevi was in charge during Israel’s campaign in Gaza to rescue hostages and destroy Hamas’s military and governing power. But in January, after the Gaza ceasefire was set, he said he’d step down, taking blame for the military’s weak and disorganized response to the October 7 attack.
If you would like to support my work, you can Buy Me A Coffee or subscribe to Brain Flushings. Thank you.
On Wednesday, as he handed over command, Halevi called for a broader investigation into the October 7 failures. “The establishment of a state commission of inquiry is necessary and essential – not to place blame, but first and foremost, to understand the root of the problems and allow for correction,” he said.
The Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet security agency have admitted their mistakes allowed the attack to happen. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has so far blocked a wider investigation that would examine his government’s role.
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