The Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), Eyal Zamir, has declared 2026 a pivotal year for Israel’s security landscape, asserting his determination to disarm the Palestinian faction Hamas. During a recent inspection of IDF troops stationed in Gaza, Zamir emphasized the establishment of a new security perimeter.
According to Zamir, the IDF has been conducting offensive operations in response to what he described as Hamas’s violations of existing agreements in the Gaza Strip. He stated that the IDF is now positioned along the ‘Yellow Line,’ a newly established security boundary overlooking the Gaza Strip. Zamir characterized this line as a reinforced defensive position and a military base for launching rapid response operations.
‘We are fully committed to disarming Hamas and all other terrorist organizations,’ Zamir affirmed. ‘We will not allow Hamas to rebuild its capabilities and threaten us.’
Zamir’s remarks follow recent discussions between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the disarmament of Hamas. Reports suggest that the U.S. and Israel have set a deadline for dismantling Hamas’s arsenal, potentially including the destruction of tunnels.
Unconfirmed reports indicate that if Hamas fails to disarm, Israel may resume military action. However, the timeline for disarming Hamas appears considerably longer than the projected timeframe for the commencement of Gaza’s reconstruction.
Despite reported disagreements with the Trump administration regarding the implementation of the next phase of an agreement concerning Gaza, Netanyahu has reportedly agreed to proceed. Trump has expressed his desire for a swift transition to the next phase, stating that Hamas will be given a limited time to surrender its weapons or face severe consequences.
