The new Chief of Staff of the Israeli Armed Forces, Eyal Zamir, surrounded by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Defense Minister Israel Katz. (Screenshot from the live broadcast by the Israeli Prime Minister's office)
The new Israeli chief of staff, Eyal Zamir, officially took office Wednesday, during a ceremony at the Israeli army headquarters in Tel Aviv, attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz.
"We have changed the face of the Middle East, and the next step will come," said the Israeli Prime Minister during his speech in honor of the replacement of General Herzi Halevi, who resigned last January.
Netanyahu also expressed to the new army chief his determination to lead the country to victory after nearly 17 months of war on multiple fronts, triggered by the unprecedented Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023.
"A very heavy responsibility rests on your shoulders," Netanyahu told Zamir during a televised ceremony. "The results of the war will matter for generations; we are determined to achieve victory."
The Israeli army's mission against Hamas in the Gaza Strip "is not over," stated Zamir. "Today, I accept command [of the Israeli army] with modesty and humility,"
"This is not a regular transition; it is a historic moment. Hamas has taken a hard hit, but it is not yet defeated,' he added. "The mission is not yet completed."
"Our moral duty is clear: To bring [all the hostages] home, by all possible means as quickly as possible,' he stated, according to reporting by the Times of Israel.
The resignation of Herzi Halevi, who has been prominent in the media recently, will take effect at the end of the day.
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