IDF chief tells reservists ‘Gaza maneuver has begun’; Israel won’t stop fighting until Hamas completely defeated

By Stav Levaton

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2 September 2025, 6:42 pm

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Stav Levaton is a military reporter for The Times of Israel

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir speaks to reservists reporting for duty at Nachshonim base, after having been called up in preparation for the military's conquest of Gaza City, September 2, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces)

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir told reservists reporting for duty earlier today that the IDF will not accept anything less than the complete defeat of Hamas.

“We will not stop the war until we defeat this enemy,” Zamir said, emphasizing that the ongoing operations in the war-torn Gaza Strip will be intensified and expanded.

Zamir visited the Nachshonim base alongside the commander of the 99th Division, Brig. Gen. Yoav Brunner, and the commander of the 11th Brigade.

During his visit, Zamir spoke with the newly mobilized reservists and personnel from the Technological and Logistics Directorate responsible for their reception, expressing his appreciation for their service.

In his remarks, Zamir highlighted the IDF’s broad operations against Hamas and other hostile actors across the Middle East since October 7.

“We are striking them, dismantling them, defeating them, and we are prevailing over them. We are operating across the entire Middle East,” he said, adding, “Hamas will have no place to hide from us. Wherever we locate them, whether they are senior or junior figures – we strike them all, all the time.”

Zamir also underscored the ongoing ground operation in Gaza, where the IDF is preparing to capture Gaza City, noting that Israeli forces are entering areas they have not operated in before.

“We have already begun the Gaza maneuver,” he said. “We are already entering places we have never entered before and operating there with courage, strength, valor, and an extraordinary spirit,” he said.

Concluding his address, Zamir praised the reservists’ turnout and called on them to rise to the challenge, extending gratitude on behalf of the IDF and all Israeli civilians.

Today marks the first phase of a wider draft for the planned conquest of Gaza City, with tens of thousands of reservists called up. Hebrew media reported that compared to previous call-ups, more reservists are reluctant to report for duty this time around due to personal or financial reasons.