IDF Chief: “We Will Keep Pursuing Those Responsible for the Massacre—and We Will Not Rest Until All Are Held Accountable”

(Photo: IDF Spokesperson)

During a tour of the Gaza Strip today (Wednesday), IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir presented the operational picture in the area and made clear that the IDF will continue working to remove threats and ensure the security of the communities surrounding Gaza. Zamir stressed that “we are implementing the security approach we defined—not only here, but along all of Israel’s borders. The IDF is on the front line, ahead of the communities and ahead of the residents, in order to protect them.”

The IDF chief said that the fighting in Gaza has brought about a significant change in the security situation: “In the Gaza Strip, we struck Hamas, significantly weakened it, and changed the security picture. The IDF will continue to act proactively and according to the principle we established—to remove threats and, in every situation, defend the communities and residents and safeguard their security. We will not allow a threat to emerge along our borders like the one we experienced on October 7.”

Zamir then addressed the broader campaign taking place simultaneously across several fronts, saying that the activity in the Gaza Strip is part of the IDF’s overall effort: “The Gaza front is part of a multi-front campaign. Last week, I met with the forces in southern Lebanon, and here I see the same spirit—a spirit of initiative, offensiveness, and commitment to the mission. This is the spirit that enables us to continue with the principle we established and keep the initiative in our hands.”

The IDF chief continued: “A tangible example of this is the pursuit of the Nukhba terrorists and everyone who took part in planning and carrying out the October 7 massacre. This is a permanent, ongoing mission that the command is carrying out with great success.”

Zamir added that the memory of the massacre’s victims accompanies commanders and soldiers every day: “The images from the communities, the Bibas family, the female surveillance soldiers, and all the victims of the October 7 massacre are before our eyes every day. We will continue to pursue those responsible, and we will not let up until we hold accountable everyone who had a part in the massacre—sooner or later. This is a permanent, ongoing mission.”

In closing, the IDF chief reiterated the military’s commitment to defending residents of the Gaza border region and communities near the border: “We must continue acting to protect the residents of the Gaza border region. Your protection and security are our goal—we will continue working to strengthen security. We have fundamentally changed the security picture, and we will continue to act to ensure that the IDF stands on the front line ahead of the communities, protects the communities and residents, and safeguards their security.”