Eyal Zamir takes over as Israeli army chief

ANKARA

Former tank commander Eyal Zamir was sworn in as Israel’s new army chief Wednesday, succeeding Herzi Halevi, who led the military during its genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.

“The task, which I am receiving today, is clear: Lead the IDF (army) to victory,” Zamir said, addressing a ceremony held at the Defense Ministry’s headquarters in Tel Aviv, vowing to bring Israeli captives back from Gaza.

"Our moral duty is clear; bring everyone back home, in any way possible and as quickly as possible," he added.

The ceremony was attended by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz and Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, the commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM).

Zamir approved several leadership changes in the military just hours after assuming his position.

He appointed Major General Yaniv Assor as commander of the Southern Command and promoted Itzik Cohen as the head of the Operations Directorate.

Israel estimates that 59 hostages are still being held in Gaza, with at least 20 of them alive, and they are expected to be set free in the second phase of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, which would require Israel to fully withdraw its forces from Gaza and end the war permanently.

Halevi said he bears responsibility for failing to counter Hamas's Oct. 7, 2023 attack. He renewed his call to establish an inquiry commission into the attack.

More than 48,400 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and over 111,000 injured in a brutal Israeli war on Gaza since October 2023. The onslaught, which left the enclave in ruins, was paused under a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement that took hold on Jan. 19.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.