Israel today swore in a new commander of its military as a standoff over the fragile ceasefire in Gaza increased the risk of a resumption of fighting as Israel refuses to enter into negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire, Reuters reported.
Eyal Zamir, who retired after 28 years with the rank of major general, was promoted to lieutenant general, before formally assuming command from General Herzi Halevi, who stepped down over the security disaster of 7 October 2023.
“The mission I have been given is clear, to lead the IDF to victory,” he said.
Fighting in Gaza has been halted since January under a truce brokered by Qatar and Egypt and supported by the United States that has allowed the exchange of 33 Israeli captives and five Thais for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
But Israeli ministers and officials have warned that their forces could resume fighting if there is no agreement on bringing back the 59 captives that remain.
Israeli occupation forces have pulled back from some of their positions in Gaza but talks that were intended to agree the release of the captives and the full withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces before an end to the war have not begun. Opposition groups in Israel have warned that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks to ensure his political career by not entering into talks on a second phase of the deal, to appease hardline members of his ruling coalition.
Israel has called for an extension of the truce until after the Jewish Passover holiday in April to allow the release of the remaining captives, while Hamas has insisted on proceeding to talks on a permanent end to the war before agreeing to any further releases.
Zamir’s appointment comes as a series of official inquiries have begun to examine the failures that allowed Palestinian resistance factions to infiltrate Israeli towns around the Gaza envelope.
Halevi led the military during the Israeli campaign in Gaza that killed more than 48,000 Palestinians and destroyed much of the enclave, leaving most of the population homeless, seeking shelter in tents or bombed-out buildings.
The new commander will also have to respond to accusations from international bodies including the United Nations that Israeli troops committed war crimes during the campaign in Gaza.
READ: Why the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire negotiations is failing