Journalist Amit Segal reports that IDF forces in Gaza have been instructed to obtain personal approval from the Chief of Staff for any targeted strike that does not pose an immediate threat, tightening the operational policy first reported earlier this evening.
Journalist Amit Segal reported Tuesday evening that IDF forces in Gaza have been instructed to obtain personal approval from the Chief of Staff for any targeted strike that does not pose an immediate threat. The directive, which includes an explicit exception for immediate threats, confirms that the policy change ordered by the political echelon has been formally communicated to the forces. The Zioneer’s Eye on Zion briefing at 18:15 Jerusalem had already noted a sharp decline in kinetic activity in Gaza, consistent with the new centralized command structure, and The Zioneer reported at 18:48 Jerusalem that the political echelon had mandated the change.
The policy shift first emerged on Monday evening (Aug 3, 16:47 Jerusalem), when Army Radio (N13) reported that the political echelon had decided to tighten the strike policy in Gaza. The report was soon confirmed by i24NEWS and other outlets, which specified that all targeted strikes now require personal approval from the Chief of Staff, replacing the previous practice where division or corps commanders could authorize such operations. On Monday, Kan 11 military correspondent Doron Kadosh reported that only one targeted strike had been carried out in Gaza in the preceding 48 hours, a reflection of the new restrictions.
As The Zioneer reported on June 20 and June 22, a similar tightening of operational authority was implemented in southern Lebanon, where strikes now require Chief of Staff approval. The broader security context includes heightened tensions with Iran, with Israel on high alert as reported by The Zioneer on July 31. The Gaza policy change appears to mirror the Lebanon restrictions, centralizing strike authority at the highest military and political levels.
The directive has been reported by multiple Israeli media sources, but official confirmation from the IDF or the Prime Minister’s Office has not yet been issued. The practical impact on counter-terror operations and the duration of the policy remain unclear.
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Source and signal
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