Eyal Zamir Sworn In as New Israeli Military Chief Amid Gaza Uncertainty

Former tank commander Eyal Zamir was sworn in as Israel’s new military chief on Wednesday, assuming the role amid growing uncertainty surrounding the expired ceasefire in Gaza, as per Al Jazeera.

Zamir, 59, previously served as director of the defense ministry. He replaces Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, who resigned in January, taking responsibility for the military’s failures leading up to the October 7 Hamas attack.

At his swearing-in ceremony held at military headquarters in Tel Aviv, Zamir acknowledged the challenges ahead.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking before Zamir, reiterated Israel’s “determined” commitment to achieving victory in its war against Hamas.

Fighting in Gaza has been on hold since January, following the first phase of a multi-stage truce brokered by Qatar and Egypt, and supported by the United States. This initial phase allowed for the exchange of 33 Israeli captives and 5 Thai captives for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

However, Israeli ministers have cautioned that military operations could resume if an agreement is not reached regarding the remaining 59 captives still held in Gaza.

While Israeli troops have withdrawn from certain positions within Gaza, negotiations aimed at securing a second phase of the truce – which would include the release of the remaining living captives, the full withdrawal of Israeli forces, and a permanent end to the war – have stalled.

Israel is seeking an extension of the initial truce until April to facilitate the release of all captives. In contrast, Hamas insists on adhering to the original January agreement, which stipulated discussions on a permanent cessation of hostilities before further releases could be negotiated.

Zamir’s appointment comes as a series of official inquiries are underway to investigate the Israeli security failures that preceded the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. The attack resulted in the deaths of at least 1,139 people and the abduction of approximately 250 others, marking one of the most significant military and security disasters in Israel’s history.

Halevi, who led the military during the Israeli assault on Gaza which has resulted in the deaths of more than 48,000 Palestinians and widespread destruction, expressed a need for a broader examination of the failures leading up to the October 7th attack during the handover ceremony.

Both the Israeli military and the Shin Bet security agency have conceded that their shortcomings contributed to the success of the Hamas attack. Prime Minister Netanyahu, however, has resisted calls for a more comprehensive inquiry that would assess the accountability of his government.

The new military chief will also have to address accusations from international organizations, including the United Nations, alleging that Israeli troops committed war crimes during the Gaza campaign. Israel denies these allegations but has indicted some reservist soldiers for instances of severe abuse of detainees.

Israel maintains that Hamas committed numerous atrocities during the October 7 attack and severely mistreated Israeli captives in Gaza. Hamas denies these accusations and, in turn, has also been accused of war crimes by United Nations bodies.