Zamir: IDF moving to war’s ‘next stage,’ will be ‘focusing on Gaza City’

During a visit to the Gaza Strip this morning, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir says the military will “soon move on to the next stage” of an ongoing offensive against Hamas.

His comments come after the security cabinet voted earlier this month to conquer Gaza City. In remarks published by the IDF, Zamir says, “Today we are approving the plan for the next stage of the war.”

“We will maintain the momentum of Operation Gideon’s Chariots while focusing on Gaza City,” he says, referring to a military offensive against Hamas that was launched in May.

“We will continue to strike until Hamas is defeated, with our eyes on the hostages. We will act with a sophisticated, measured, and responsible strategy. The IDF will employ all its capabilities on land, in the air, and at sea in order to strike Hamas with force,” Zamir says.

The IDF chief says, “Soon we will move on to the next stage of Operation Gideon’s Chariots, in which we will continue to deepen the harm to Hamas in Gaza City until its defeat.”

“Operation Gideon’s Chariots has met its objectives,” Zamir says, adding that “Hamas no longer possesses the same capabilities it had before the operation; we have dealt it a severe blow.”

Zamir says the offensive against Hamas is not “localized,” but rather part of a “long-term and planned program, with a multifront vision to strike all components of the axis, first and foremost Iran.”