Israel new army chief Eyal Zamir says Hamas mission ‘not accomplished’

Former tank commander Eyal Zamir has been sworn in as Israel's new military chief as the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip expires and the situation becomes increasingly uncertain. Zamir, 59, previously served as Director-General of the Ministry of Defense, succeeding Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, the former Chief of Staff, who acknowledged failing to fulfill his responsibilities.

Zamir stated at the inauguration ceremony held at the military headquarters in Tel Aviv on Wednesday that he is prepared to face future challenges, noting that "Hamas has indeed suffered a heavy blow... but has not yet been defeated. The mission is not yet complete." Prior to Zamir's speech, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel is "determined" to win this war.

Fighting in the Gaza Strip has been stalled since January under the mediation of Qatar and Egypt and with the support of the United States, as part of the first phase of a multi-stage truce allowing for the exchange of 33 Israeli captives and 5 Thai captives in exchange for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. However, some Israeli ministers have warned that their forces may resume fighting if an agreement is not reached to bring back the remaining 59 captives.

Meanwhile, a series of official investigations have begun to review Israel's failure to prevent the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel. The attack resulted in the deaths of at least 1,139 people and the capture of approximately 250, marking one of the greatest military and security disasters in Israeli history. Halevi led Israel's offensive against Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of over 48,000 Palestinians and the destruction of much of the region, leaving most of the population sheltering in tents or bombed-out buildings.

Halevi called for a broader review of the failures of October 7, 2023, when handing over command on Wednesday. He said: "Establishing a national commission of inquiry is necessary and important – not to assign blame, but first and foremost to understand the roots of the problem and allow for correction." The Israeli military and the Shin Bet security agency have both acknowledged that their failures contributed to the attack, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has so far resisted a broader inquiry into the responsibility of his government.

The new commander will also have to respond to allegations from international bodies, including the United Nations, that Israeli forces committed war crimes during the Gaza campaign. Israel denies these allegations but has prosecuted some reservists for serious abuse of detainees. Israel says Hamas is also subject to war crimes allegations by UN agencies, having committed multiple atrocities in the October 7 attacks and severely abused Israeli captives in Gaza. Hamas denies the allegations.