JERUSALEM (VINnews)-IDF chief of the General Staff said Wednesday that Israeli forces have significantly weakened Hamas in the Gaza Strip and fundamentally altered the security situation there, pledging to maintain a proactive forward defense to protect Israeli communities.

Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir conducted an operational assessment in Gaza alongside Southern Command commander Maj. Gen. Yaniv Asor, 99th Division commander Brig. Gen. Elad Tzuri, Gaza Division commander Brig. Gen. Liron Batito and other officers. During the visit, Zamir toured the area, received briefings from battalion commanders on the current operational picture and met with division and brigade commanders. He expressed appreciation to the troops and commanders operating in Gaza to defend Israeli residents.

“In the Gaza Strip, we are striking Hamas. We have significantly weakened it and fundamentally changed the security reality,” Zamir said. “The IDF will continue to operate proactively and according to the principle we established — to remove threats and, in every situation, maintain a forward defense posture to protect the communities and residents and safeguard their security. We will not allow a threat to emerge on our borders like the one we experienced during the October 7th massacre.”

Zamir emphasized that the Gaza front forms part of a broader multi-front effort. He noted that he had met with troops in southern Lebanon the previous week and observed the same spirit of initiative, determination and commitment to the mission.

“We are implementing the security strategy we defined — not only here, but along all of the State of Israel’s borders. The IDF is positioned at the front, ahead of the communities and their residents, in order to protect them,” he said.

The chief of staff singled out the ongoing pursuit of Nukhba terrorists and others involved in planning and carrying out the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre as a permanent mission being executed with success by Southern Command.

“The images from the communities, the Bibas family, the surveillance soldiers, and all the victims of the October 7th massacre are before our eyes every day,” Zamir said. “We will continue to pursue those responsible for the massacre, and we will not relent until we bring every person who played a part in it to justice — sooner or later. This is a permanent and ongoing mission.”

He reiterated the commitment to the security of communities near the Gaza border: “We must continue acting to protect the residents of the communities near the Gaza Strip. Your protection and security are our mission — we will continue working to strengthen security. We have fundamentally changed the security reality, and we will continue to act to ensure that the IDF remains at the front, protecting the communities and their residents and safeguarding their security.”