Change of command ceremony at Southern Command
Photo: Avi Rokach
Zamir: We must be prepared for escalation in Gaza
Outgoing GOC Southern Command says IDF will defeat terrorism from Gaza, adding to 'all of those elements trying to delegitimize us—we'll continue operating, whether you like it or not'; Eisenkot: 'Protective Edge won't end until we bring Goldin, Shaul home for burial.'
Outgoing GOC Southern Command Maj. Gen. Eyal Zamir warned Wednesday that Israel "must be prepared for escalation" on the Gaza border, as well as "draw conclusions and find a suitable solution for the kites terrorism as well."
"The threat is not over and we need to intensify the efforts," Zamir said at a change of command ceremony at the Southern Command.
"The terror pattern of operations on the Gaza border will be defeated with determination," Maj. Gen. Zamir added. "If required, we will use our full force."
Zamir, right, with Eisenkot (Photo: Avi Rokach)
He argued that "a calm is primarily in the interests of the strip's residents, who are suffering under the Hamas rule," adding that "The responsibility for the results is squarely on Hamas."
Zamir also had a message to "all of those elements trying to delegitimize us—we'll continue operating, whether you like it or not."
Also speaking at the ceremony, IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot said the army was "dealing with a wide variety of terror attacks" from the Gaza Strip, noting that "we must find solutions to any kind of threat."
Eisenkot went on to say that "some four years after Protective Edge, the mission hasn't been completed. It will only be completed after the return of Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul for burial in Israel."
(Photo: Avi Rokach)
The change of command ceremony was held four days later than originally planned because of the high tensions on the Gaza border.
Maj. Gen. Herzi, who previously served as the head of Military Intelligence and the commander of the Galilee Division, is taking over the Southern Command as the IDF deals with attempts by terrorists from Gaza to infiltrate Israel and rocket fire the likes of which Israel hasn't seen since the 2014 Operation Protective Edge.
