LIVE BROADCAST: Watch as the new IDF Chief-of-Staff assumes command

The Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv stood as a solemn backdrop this morning as Major General (res.) Eyal Zamir was promoted to Lieutenant General and assumed the mantle of the 24th Chief-of-Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). At precisely 11:00 AM, the change of command ceremony unfolded—a ritual steeped in military tradition, yet heavy with the weight of recent history. Outgoing Chief-of-Staff Herzi Halevi, whose tenure ended in the shadow of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack, handed over leadership to Zamir, a figure whose armored corps roots and strategic vision signal a shift for Israel’s military.

The event, attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and a cadre of senior officers, was more than a procedural baton-passing. It was a moment of reckoning and resolve. Netanyahu, speaking under the gray March sky, addressed the gathered troops and dignitaries with a tone that blended defiance and gratitude. “The people want victory and will receive victory,” he declared, his voice carrying over the hum of the city beyond the Kirya’s walls. “Just a few generations ago, we were helpless; thanks to persistent effort, we have regained control over our destiny. This does not mean that our enemies are incapable of attacking us—but today, we have the ability to fight back fiercely.”

Zamir, 59, steps into the role at a pivotal juncture. A native of Eilat, he is the first IDF Chief-of-Staff to emerge from the Armored Corps, a departure from the paratrooper lineage that has long dominated the position. His career spans decades of service: commanding the Southern Command, advising Netanyahu as military secretary from 2012 to 2015, and serving as Deputy Chief-of-Staff until 2021. Most recently, he held the civilian post of Director-General of the Defense Ministry, a role that sharpened his focus on self-reliance in defense production—a priority he has championed publicly. Confirmed by the cabinet on February 16, his appointment reflects a calculated choice amid ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.

The ceremony bore the marks of its context. Halevi’s exit follows his resignation over the IDF’s failure to thwart the October 7 attack, a wound still raw in the national psyche. Netanyahu, in a rare moment of personal reflection, paid tribute to the outgoing chief. “Thank you, Herzi Halevi—you summoned the strength of mind and body to recover from the harsh blow,” he said. “I saw you barely sleeping, not seeing your family, sometimes for weeks. You acted in accordance with our decisions.” The words hung in the air, a testament to Halevi’s grueling tenure and the toll of leadership in crisis.

For Zamir, the road ahead is fraught. The IDF faces a multi-front challenge: rebuilding trust after October 7, pursuing operations against Hamas, and countering Hezbollah’s provocations in the north. His known preference for an offensive posture and his emphasis on confronting Iran suggest a tenure that will prioritize action over hesitation. Yet, as the honor guard stood at attention and the ranks saluted, the ceremony underscored a deeper continuity—the unyielding rhythm of a military adapting to an unyielding reality.

In the Kirya’s courtyard, where the past and future of Israel’s defense briefly converged, the message was clear: the fight goes on. Zamir, now bearing the three stars of a Lieutenant General, inherits not just a title, but a nation’s expectations.