The political echelon has directed that IDF forces in the Gaza Strip will only carry out strikes to remove immediate threats, with any targeted strike requiring personal approval from the Chief of Staff, according to multiple Israeli media reports Tuesday. The directive was first reported by Army Radio (N13) and later confirmed by i24NEWS and other outlets. The policy shift reflects a centralization of authority, with the Chief of Staff now the sole approving officer for targeted operations, replacing the previous practice where division or regional commanders could authorize such strikes.
The policy shift, which took effect Tuesday, marks a significant centralization of strike authority in the Gaza Strip. According to reports from Army Radio (N13) and i24NEWS, the directive was issued by the political echelon and communicated to IDF forces. The new rules limit operations to immediate threat removal only; any targeted strike beyond that requires the personal approval of the IDF Chief of Staff.
The change reverses the previous practice, where OC Southern Command or division commanders could authorize targeted strikes. Army Radio's Doron Kadosh reported at 17:21 that the policy had been tightened significantly, noting that only one targeted strike had been carried out in the past 48 hours. At 18:43, i24NEWS confirmed the directive in an exclusive report, adding that it was the result of a political echelon decision. A statement from the political echelon at 18:46 explicitly stated: 'The political echelon decided: targeted strikes in Gaza will now be carried out only with Chief of Staff approval.'
The directive has led to a sharp reduction in kinetic activity. Multiple messages noted that the IDF had not conducted strikes for extended periods, with one source describing a 27-hour pause. The shift appears to reflect a broader strategic calculation amid ongoing regional negotiations.
The Zioneer covered the emerging policy in its bulletin at 18:46 and in its daily Eye on Zion briefing at 18:15, which noted the centralized command structure and its impact on strike frequency.
The IDF Spokesperson's Unit declined to comment on the reports, referring inquiries to the political echelon. The Prime Minister's Office and the Defense Ministry have not yet issued official statements.
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