All Israeli strikes in Gaza to require IDF chief's approval as military tightens policies - report

The Israeli military is tightening its attack policies in the Gaza Strip, with all strikes now requiring the direct approval of IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir. This marks a significant shift from the previous policy, which only mandated approval from a division commander, according to an Army Radio report citing security sources.

The report suggests that this policy change is a direct contributor to the recent reduction in IDF operations in Gaza. The IDF has confirmed that several strikes over the weekend and in preceding weeks resulted in the deaths of multiple terrorists from various groups. Among those killed was Mahmoud Fatair, a Palestinian Islamic Jihad Central Gaza Brigade commander implicated in the October 7 attacks and in holding Rom Braslavski hostage.

Further confirmed killings include Jaish al-Islam terrorist Alaa Imad Khamis Tarams, Hamas Jabalya Battalion commander Ahmad Khudar, Hamas Nukhba commander Salem Jamal Abd al-Rahman Abu Labad, and Hamas Maghazi Battalion commander Muhammad Abd al-Nasser Muhammad Khatib. The IDF noted that Abu Labad had infiltrated Israel on October 7, 2023.

Army Radio indicated that the escalation of attack policies in Gaza is a decision made by the political echelon. The report also highlighted a general decrease in targets since the October 7 massacre, with no IDF strikes in Gaza reported for the 48 hours preceding Monday, except for a single attack early that morning.