Israel’s army chief vows to demilitarise Gaza despite ceasefire

Israeli Army Chief Eyal Zamir has pledged to continue the process of demilitarising Gaza and disarming Hamas, despite US efforts to advance a ceasefire in the Palestinian territory. During a visit to Gaza, Zamir stated that Israel will use all necessary means to achieve these objectives, according to a military statement. The Israeli military continues to target alleged perpetrators of the October 7, 2023 attack in Gaza, and will eliminate everyone involved until the mission is complete.

Despite a US-backed ceasefire since October 2025, Gaza has seen continued violence, including the killing of at least five people, including two children, by Israeli fire on Monday. Israel refuses to withdraw forces until Hamas is fully disarmed, and has limited its operations in Gaza under US pressure, focusing on removing imminent threats to its troops or those involved in the October 7 attack.

The Israeli army has been concerned with preventing Hamas from rebuilding and eliminating terrorist infrastructure. The conflict began with Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, resulting in 1,221 deaths and 251 hostages taken to Gaza. Israel's response has resulted in the deaths of at least 73,431 people in Gaza, according to the Palestinian health ministry.