From the Liveblog of
Sunday, October 12, 2025
IDF chief declares ‘victory’ over Hamas, vows to keep working so Gaza doesn’t pose a threat
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, in a video statement, says that the military pressure exerted on Hamas in the past two years, alongside a “complementary diplomatic move,” has brought about “victory” over the Palestinian terror group.
“We will continue to act to shape a security reality that will ensure that no threat to the State of Israel and its citizens will loom from the Gaza Strip,” he says.
“With the return of the hostages, we are fulfilling one of the important goals for which we went to war, an objective that is a national, moral, and Jewish commitment,” Zamir says.
He says that “the safety of our troops in battle and the safety of the hostages in captivity were foremost in our minds as a central consideration in every course of the fighting.”
“We acted with precision and professionalism, systematically and responsibly. We made complex decisions in order not to endanger the hostages’ safety and to significantly reduce casualties among our forces,” Zamir says.
He also says Israel is still “in the midst of a multifront war” and that the IDF’s actions are “reshaping the Middle East and our security strategy for the coming years.”
“More challenges await us; we will continue to stand alert for our existence and our security,” Zamir adds.
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