"We are preparing to return to fighting," Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir said on his first day as the 24th IDF Chief of Staff on Thursday.
The comments were made during a meeting with the heads of local councils from the Gaza border communities.
"We must defeat Hamas," said Zamir. "We are also preparing to resume fighting. The hostages are our top priority."
Shamir, who was appointed to the position on Wednesday, began his term with a clear and concise message: "Victory and the defeat of the enemy - this is our mission, this is our destiny."
In his first speech, Zamir emphasized the immense responsibility of leading the army after the events of October 7, while acknowledging the mistakes of the past alongside the determination to ensure that the IDF will succeed in its missions.
"We will not stop until Hamas is destroyed, and we will not remain silent until our people return from captivity in the Gaza tunnels," he declared resolutely.
Israel's next stages
Zamir expressed appreciation for his predecessor, Lt.-Gen. (ret.) Herzi Halevi, and promised the soldiers and commanders that he would provide them with the tools necessary for victory.
"Our actions will speak for themselves," concluded the chief of staff, outlining the vision for the next stage in the struggle against Israel's enemies.
The IDF Spokesperson's Office stated that "during the meeting, the chief of staff spoke with the heads of the authorities, thanked them for their important cooperation, and emphasized the IDF's commitment to regional security and restoring trust, eliminating Hamas, and returning the hostages."
The meeting was attended by the outgoing head of the Southern Command, Maj.-Gen. Yaron Finkelman, the incoming head of the Southern Command, Maj.-Gen. Yaniv Asor, and the head of the Home Front Command, Major General Rafi Milo, Maariv reported.