IDF field forces have been instructed that any targeted elimination in Gaza that does not address an immediate threat to troops must receive personal approval from the Chief of Staff, according to a report. The directive formalizes the tightening of fire policy in the Gaza Strip, centralizing authority at the highest military level.
IDF field forces in the Gaza Strip were formally instructed Tuesday that any targeted elimination that does not pose an immediate threat to troops now requires personal approval from the Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir. The directive, reported by multiple Israeli outlets, confirms the operational implementation of the political echelon's order, centralizing fire authority at the highest military level and stripping division and regional commanders of the independent authority they previously held to order such strikes.
The political echelon's directive was first reported Monday evening (16:47 Jerusalem) by Army Radio (N13), followed by corroboration from i24NEWS, N12, and others. The Zioneer's Eye on Zion analysis published Tuesday at 18:15 noted the resulting sharp decline in kinetic activity, with only one strike recorded in the preceding 48 hours. The Zioneer's full article at 18:52 Tuesday detailed the policy shift, which restricts field commanders to engaging only immediate threats.
The tightening mirrors similar restrictions imposed in southern Lebanon earlier this year, as The Zioneer reported on June 20, where strikes also require Chief of Staff approval. The new Gaza policy is described as part of a broader shift toward centralized command amid sensitive regional negotiations, though official confirmation from the Prime Minister's or Defense Minister's offices has not been provided.
It remains unclear whether the directive applies retroactively to operations already in motion or only to future missions. No further details have been released on the specific circumstances that triggered the policy change.
15 developments
- StrongIDF conducting targeted eliminations under Chief of Staff's personal approval, security sources say
- StrongGaza soldiers report fewer airstrikes, need chief of staff approval to strike beyond Yellow Line
- StrongIDF braces for Hamas retaliation after wave of targeted assassinations, i24NEWS reports
- StrongMK Boaz Bismuth: Standing order to eliminate any threat in Gaza upon actionable intelligence
Source and signal
- Open-source intake