GAZA STRIP – At a strategically significant moment in Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir visited the Shajaiya area of Gaza on Tuesday for a frontline assessment and operational review, accompanied by senior commanders. The visit underscored the essential role of Israel’s reserve forces in the sustained military response against Hamas terrorists and reinforced the message of unity and resilience in the face of ongoing threats posed by Iranian-backed terror networks.
Joined by Southern Command Chief Major General Yaron Finkelman, 252nd Division Commander Brigadier General Yehuda Wah, and other senior leaders, Zamir met with reserve soldiers from the IDF’s 16th Brigade actively engaged in the Gaza sector. This engagement follows months of intensive military activity launched in response to the October 7th massacre, the deadliest antisemitic attack since the Holocaust, carried out by Hamas and its collaborators. The IDF’s campaign aims to restore security to Israel’s southern communities and dismantle Hamas’ terror infrastructure, while contending with complex multi-front threats orchestrated by Iran through allied proxies in Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, and Iraq.
During his visit, Lieutenant General Zamir expressed deep appreciation for Israel’s reservists—citizen-soldiers who have been rapidly mobilized in unprecedented numbers following the October 7 attacks. Recognizing the diversity within the ranks, Zamir highlighted the importance of harnessing a wide range of experience and viewpoints toward the IDF’s singular mission: defending Israel’s population and securing a decisive outcome against terror. “The IDF consists of diverse people and opinions, working together to accomplish the mission and uphold security—the mission is accomplished together,” Zamir told reservists, reflecting the foundational ethos of Israel’s armed forces.
Operationally, Zamir’s visit included a comprehensive review of ongoing and future combat operations. He gave final authorization to updated operational plans designed to continue both offensive and defensive maneuvers. These measures are informed by the hard lessons of ongoing urban warfare, intelligence gathering, and close coordination among regular and reserve forces. The approval signals an intent to escalate pressure on Hamas terrorists, targeting command centers, tunnel networks, and weapons stores embedded throughout densely populated areas like Shajaiya—a neighborhood long exploited by Hamas for military advantage at the cost of civilian safety.
The October 7 massacre fundamentally altered Israel’s strategic landscape, forcing a major mobilization of reserve units—many of whom left families, professions, and civilian life to serve. Israeli reservists now form the backbone of multiple IDF sectors: in Gaza, the northern border, and in Judea and Samaria, responding to the heightened threat from coordinated terror groups. Their ongoing participation enables the IDF to counter persistent attacks, bolster defensive positions, and sustain operational continuity across prolonged conflict.
The persistent threat of additional Iranian-backed aggression from Hezbollah and regional proxies has demanded that Israel maintain readiness on multiple fronts. Western and Israeli intelligence assessments confirm that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps continues to supply advanced weaponry, training, and funding to terror groups seeking Israel’s destruction. The coordinated assaults by Hamas, Hezbollah, and other Iranian-backed factions underscore the existential threat Israel faces and the central role played by highly motivated and adaptable reserve forces.
While on the Gaza front, Zamir addressed ongoing debates regarding political discourse within the military context. He affirmed that reservists, as citizens, have the right to express their views and participate in democratic discourse when not on active duty. However, he strongly rejected attempts to politicize the IDF or issue public statements purportedly on behalf of military units, insisting that national defense must remain above partisan divides. Zamir reiterated the IDF’s commitment to preserving its integrity as a unifying institution dedicated exclusively to the defense of Israel and the principles of democracy.
The Chief of Staff’s recognition of the necessity for unity was notable amid an extended period of civil mobilization and political debate within Israel. Although the public’s support for the IDF remains overwhelmingly strong, ongoing protests and societal divisions have been evident in the national discourse. Zamir’s clear distinction—that civil protest is legitimate only through appropriate civilian channels, never as an expression of an active military unit—reflects both adherence to democratic values and the necessity of military neutrality in political matters.
Urban combat in areas such as Shajaiya continues to present immense tactical and ethical challenges. Hamas’ systematic use of civilian infrastructure—mosques, schools, hospitals, and residential housing—to shield military operations violates international law and imposes severe risks on noncombatants. The IDF has maintained a consistent strategy of attempting to warn civilians through various means prior to strikes and applying precision weaponry to avoid unnecessary casualties, despite the inherent difficulties posed by Hamas’ tactics. Zamir’s operational review reaffirmed the military’s dual commitment to eradicating terror infrastructure while upholding legal and moral standards, aiming to protect civilian life wherever feasible.
The hostage crisis remains a central preoccupation. More than a hundred Israeli and foreign civilians—men, women, and children—continue to be held by Hamas in Gaza, following their abduction during the October 7 attack. The government and military leadership regularly emphasize that these individuals are innocent victims of terror and that any eventual exchanges for their release must not obscure the critical moral and legal distinctions between hostages taken by force and convicted terrorists.
Beyond Gaza, Israel’s military and political leaders remain acutely aware of the shifting regional dynamics. Iranian support for terror proxies represents a direct strategic challenge not only to Israel, but to Western interests and regional stability more broadly. The United States, under President Donald Trump, has continued to affirm Israel’s right to defend its citizens and to act against Iranian aggression. Israeli officials note that the ongoing campaign in Gaza serves as a warning to Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and other hostile entities that military provocation will be met with decisive self-defense.
In sum, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir’s visit to Shajaiya was a substantive demonstration of both the Israeli military’s unity of purpose and its operational resolve. The presence of senior commanders and direct engagement with reserve units highlighted the IDF’s reliance on the whole of Israeli society in an hour of crisis. As combat continues in Gaza, and as Israel braces for evolving regional threats, national unity, moral clarity, and the disciplined application of force remain the cornerstone of the country’s survival strategy. The IDF’s ongoing efforts aim not only to neutralize terror threats but to secure the foundations for a post-conflict future in which Israel’s security and democratic values endure.
