IDF chief says army pushing ahead with its plans to conquer Gaza City

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir says the military is pushing ahead with its plans to capture Gaza City during a visit to southern Gaza’s Khan Younis earlier today.

“We are advancing with the efforts for action in Gaza City. We already have forces operating on the outskirts of the city, and additional forces will join them later,” Zamir says to troops of the Kfir Infantry Brigade and 188th Armored Brigade, who repelled a Hamas attack on their encampment yesterday.

“Our missions remain the release of the hostages and the defeat of Hamas; we will not rest and will not stop until we complete them. Achieving these missions is essential for our future and for our values as a society,” he says.

Zamir says the IDF has dealt Hamas a “severe blow.”

“From the terror army we experienced on October 7, it has become a guerrilla organization. We will continue to strike Hamas everywhere, pursue them as long as necessary and wherever necessary,” he says.

Speaking on the 60,000 reservists the IDF has called up for the Gaza City offensive, Zamir says, “We call them only when needed. I am certain they will show up until the mission is completed.”

“We are discussing with the political echelon the plans going forward and creating the best operational achievements on the battlefield in order to present them with the widest range of options,” he adds.