IDF Chief: ‘Hamas Rafah Brigade will be defeated soon’ amid Gaza operation

On Tuesday, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, the Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), toured the Morag corridor in the Gaza Strip. He assessed operations in the combat zones of the Golani Brigade and the 188th Brigade.

Zamir was joined by Major General Yaniv Asor, Commanding Officer of the Southern Command, and Brigadier General Moran Omer, Commander of the 36th Division, among other senior officers. The visit highlighted the IDF’s push into a new operational area.

During the tour, Zamir met with 36th Division soldiers and commanders. He approved plans to continue the offensive against Hamas. He praised the troops, saying, "You, the troops of the 36th Division, have returned to operate in the Gaza Strip, in an area where IDF troops are operating for the first time, the Morag Corridor, in an operation that caught the enemy by surprise, resulted in the elimination of dozens of terrorists, and led to the locating of numerous weapons."

Zamir added, "You are applying significant pressure. I expect you to bring about the defeat of Hamas’ Rafah Brigade and to achieve victory wherever you operate."

With Passover approaching, he linked the mission to national goals: "As we approach Passover, the holiday of Freedom, the objective of our operation here is clear and just—the return of all our hostages, the achievement of victory, and the dismantling of Hamas."

He also thanked the 36th Division and Southern Command for their extended service. Their achievements span Gaza and Israel’s northern border.

The visit signals an escalation in IDF efforts. Zamir aims to turn recent successes into a broader triumph as the holiday nears.