IDF chief: We’re increasing pressure in Gaza to return our people, defeat Hamas

By Emanuel Fabian

You will receive email alerts from this author. Manage alert preferences on your profile page

You will no longer receive email alerts from this author. Manage alert preferences on your profile page

4 May 2025, 7:35 pm 2 Edit

Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir (right) and Navy chief Vice Adm. David Sa'ar Salama speak to commandos of Shayetet 13 at the Atlit base, May 4, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces)

During a visit to the Navy’s Shayetet 13 commando unit, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir says the military is increasing pressure on Hamas to release the hostages.

“This week, we are sending tens of thousands of draft orders to our reserve personnel to intensify and expand our action in Gaza. We are increasing the pressure to return our people [held hostage] and defeat Hamas,” Zamir says in remarks published by the IDF.

He says the IDF will “operate in additional areas and destroy all of [Hamas’s] infrastructure above and below ground.”