Israel names Zamir to replace Halevi as new IDF chief of staff

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Eyal Zamir is to become the new chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), replacing Herzi Halevi, who recently resigned, the Israeli government announced on Saturday.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Netanyahu had made the decision to appoint Zamir together with Defense Minister Israel Katz.

Zamir, 59, was previously director general of the Israeli Ministry of Defense. In this role, he was also prominently involved in the sale of the Arrow 3 missile defence system to Germany.

Halevi resigned more than 15 months after the start of the Gaza war, citing the failure of the Israeli army on October 7, 2023 as the reason. His resignation takes effect on March 6.

Several IDF representatives had already resigned after the October massacre, during which Hamas invaded Israel, killing more than 1,200 people and taking some 250 hostage.

The new chief of staff is expected to learn from those mistakes and to lead a reorientation of the military.