Eyal Zamir Appointed as IDF Chief of Staff: Advocate for Strong Stance on Gaza and Iran
Netanyahu selects retired Major General Zamir to lead the Israel Defense Forces following Herzi Halevi's resignation.
Watan-In a move reflecting the continuation of Israel’s aggressive policies, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appointed General Eyal Zamir as the new Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces, succeeding General Herzi Halevi, who resigned following criticism over the military’s failure to prevent the Al-Aqsa Flood operation on October 7, 2023.
Zamir, 59, is considered one of the most extreme military leaders, advocating the use of military force as the sole option to protect Israelis. He believes that the battle with Iran is not Israel’s alone but should involve the international community.
Although Zamir was not in the military during the events of October 7, he justified the acts of genocide committed by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip following the operation. Throughout his 38-year service, he participated in bloody military campaigns against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
Zamir joined the armored corps of the Israeli army in 1984 and held several leadership positions, most notably as commander of the 7th Armored Brigade, commander of the Southern Command, and military secretary to Benjamin Netanyahu. He later served as Director General of the Ministry of Defense before resigning in November 2023, following the dismissal of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
Known for his close ties to Netanyahu, Zamir is considered the Prime Minister’s strong arm within the army, relied upon to implement Netanyahu’s security and military agenda, especially concerning Iran and the “resistance axis.”
Zamir believes that the war against Iran requires integration between tactical and strategic dimensions, focusing on weakening the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, which he considers a primary target in the regional battle.
His appointment comes at a sensitive time, amid escalating aggression on West Bank cities and ongoing negotiations to end the Israeli war on Gaza, making his role pivotal in shaping the occupation’s military policies for the upcoming phase.
