Outgoing military leader Herzi Halevi called for a broader failure examination on October 7, 2023.
Former Tank Commander Eyal Zamir was sworn in as a new military chief of Israel in the midst of growing uncertainty on the ceasefire expired in Gaza.
Previously, director of the Ministry of Defense, the 59-year-old replace the chief of staff of Lieutenant-General Herzi Halevi, who resigned in January admitting that he had not fulfilled his mandate.
On Wednesday, during his swear ceremony at Tel Aviv’s military seat, Zamir said he was ready for the upcoming challenges, noting that even if “Hamas has indeed suffered a blow … It has not yet been defeated. The mission is not yet accomplished. »»
Speaking before Zamir, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said ISRAEL was “determined” to win the victory in his war.
The fights in Gaza have been interrupted since January in the first phase of a several stages truce negotiated by Qatar and Egypt and supported by the United States which allowed the exchange of 33 Israeli captives and 5 Thai captives for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
But some Israeli ministers have warned that their forces could resume the fighting if there is no agreement on the radiation of the 59 captives that remain.
Israeli troops withdrew some of their positions in Gaza, but talks that were intended to agree with a second phase of the truce which would see the release of the remaining live captives and the total withdrawal of Israeli forces before the end of the war.
Israel called for an extension of the first phase truce until April to allow the release of the remaining captives, while Hamas insisted to stick to the agreement concluded in January, which calls on a permanent end to war, before conceiving other versions.
Surveys
Zamir’s inurement occurs a series of official requests that have started to examine Israeli failures that did not prevent the attack led by Hamas against southern Israel on October 7, 2023. At least 1,139 people were killed in the attack and around 250 others were captive in one of the largest military and security disasters in the history of Israel.
Halevi led the army during the Israeli assault on Gaza, which killed more than 48,000 Palestinians and destroyed a large part of the territory, leaving most of the population to take shelter in tents or bombed buildings.
But he announced in January, shortly after the Gaza ceasefire agreement was concluded, that he would withdraw from his command, accepting the responsibility of the army’s response to the attack on October 7.
On Wednesday, when he gave his command, he called for a broader failure examination on October 7, 2023.
“The creation of a State Inquiry Commission is necessary and essential-not to blame, but above all, to understand the root of problems and allow the correction,” he said.
The Israeli army and the Shin Bet Security Agency have recognized that their failures allowed the attack on taking place, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has so far resisted a more general investigation that would examine his government.
The new commander will also have to respond to accusations of international organizations, including the United Nations, that Israeli troops have committed war crimes during the campaign in Gaza.
Israel rejects these accusations, but it charged certain individual reservist soldiers for severe abuse of prisoners.
Israel says that Hamas, which was also accused of war crimes by United Nations bodies, committed multiple atrocities during the October 7 attack and Israeli captives seriously abused in Gaza. Hamas denies the accusations.
