Israel's newly appointed armed forces chief, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir visits the Western Wall in the old city of Jerusalem on March 5, 2025. [Menahem KAHANA / AFP / Getty Images]
Israel’s newly appointed armed forces chief, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir visits the Western Wall in the old city of Jerusalem on March 5, 2025. [Menahem KAHANA / AFP / Getty Images]
General Eyal Zamir officially assumed his new position as commander of the Israeli occupation army, succeeding the resigned commander Herzi Halevi, following his failure to counter Hamas’s attack on 7 October 2023 and his shortcomings in the Gaza war.
Zamir has held prestigious leadership positions within the military establishment, including as director-general of the Ministry of Defence, deputy chief of staff, commander of the Southern Command, and military secretary to the prime minister. He is the first Mizrahi Jew to hold this position — his father is of Yemeni origin, and his mother is of Syrian descent. He is also the oldest general to assume this role at the relatively old age of 59.
It is crucial to examine Zamir’s key military positions. He supports collective punishment against Palestinian civilians, including economic sanctions, power cuts, lockdowns, bans on raw materials used in the production of consumer goods, and restrictions on fuel supplies for vehicles. He also endorses assassination policies, claiming that deliberately targeting “militants” is legitimate and justified.
Zamir has outlined a “target bank” that will be central to his upcoming aggressive strategy, including what he describes as the “spiritual leaders” of the resistance. He claims they are an integral part of its military structure, making them legitimate targets in the war, alleging their involvement in operations even if they pose as civilians. According to him, they pose as civilians in an attempt to shield themselves with immunity, justifying targeting any member of this group.
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Since the launch of the assault on Gaza in October 2023, Zamir has emphasised the need to strengthen military capabilities by increasing reliance on the local defence industry and reducing dependence on American ammunition and supplies, despite maintaining strong ties with his US counterparts. He was responsible for unprecedented weapons purchases from the United States, including fighter jets and heavy weaponry, while also boosting domestic military production.
As Director-General of the Ministry of Defence, Zamir played a crucial role throughout the 15 months of war on Gaza in coordinating a massive air and naval supply chain consisting of hundreds of aircraft and ships, to arm the Israeli military with weapons from across the world. He also managed the ongoing shortage of weaponry as the war escalated and as some Western countries imposed arms embargoes on Israel. These large-scale acquisitions included various types of weapons, combat systems, fuel, spare parts, raw materials and other military equipment.
Upon his appointment as army chief, Zamir has expressed that investigating the failures that led to the 7 October attack will be essential in determining the scope and nature of the General Staff’s inquiries. These investigations will influence the reassignment of senior military positions, as some officers have already been held accountable while others are expected to face scrutiny. There are growing expectations that his appointment will lead to the retirement of several high-ranking officers, paving the way for new generals and brigadier generals who have been awaiting promotion.
Zamir is also known for his warnings about the shrinking manpower of the Israeli military despite increasing security threats. He strongly opposes the “small army” doctrine and rejects the notion that the military should evolve into a high-tech company over time. He has openly stated that the army requires an additional 10,000 combat troops due to the failure to recruit ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) soldiers. His approach prioritises expanding the military, investing more in ground forces and exercises, and enhancing domestic production capabilities to prepare for multi-front warfare.
Zamir is expected to face ten major challenges in addition to the aftermath of the Gaza war. The first is selecting a new leadership team, including his deputy and the General Staff, within a short period. The second is integrating ultra-Orthodox recruits into the military. The third is preparing for the possible collapse of the Gaza ceasefire and the resumption of the war. The fourth is planning for an unprecedented military operation against Iran with US support. The fifth is continuing unresolved investigations into the failures of 7 October.
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The sixth challenge for Zamir is restoring public trust in the military, which was severely damaged after the catastrophic failure on 7 October. The seventh involves structuring force-building initiatives, procurement and the activation of operational plans. The eighth is securing approval for the defence budget and formulating a multi-year strategic plan for the Ministry of Defence. The ninth is supporting the military’s strategic planning, increasing budgets for research and development and exploring the creation of new divisions. The tenth and final challenge is focusing on artificial intelligence, robotics, enhancing military exports and expanding digitisation.
On the battlefield, Zamir will face a dire situation in Gaza, particularly given the political leadership’s failure to establish an alternative governance structure to replace Hamas, which remains responsible for nearly two million Palestinians. As a result, the so-called “military achievements” of the army have not translated into political gains, creating a persistent challenge that continues to erode the effectiveness of Israeli military operations in Gaza day by day. Zamir is unlikely to conceal from political leaders and the public the extent to which the military is being drained in Gaza, both in terms of regular and reserve forces.
Under these circumstances, Zamir is expected to pressure political leaders to set clear priorities. The government has decided to keep Israeli forces on the ground in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, while shifting military focus toward the West Bank. This will force him to make difficult decisions regarding strategic priorities and resource allocation within an army already suffering from a shortage of combat troops. It is already clear that the number of combat units will need to be increased.
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