Chief of Staff vows to "Destroy all infrastructure above and below ground" in Gaza Operation expansion

On Sunday, May 4, 2025, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir visited the Shayetet 13 naval commando unit at the Atlit base, accompanied by Vice-Admiral David Saar Salama, commander of the Israel Navy, and other senior officers. During the visit, Zamir received a detailed briefing on the unit’s operations and specialized capabilities utilized throughout the ongoing war, particularly since the collapse of a ceasefire on March 18, 2025. He engaged with the unit’s soldiers, commending their distinguished performance across various sectors and expressing deep appreciation for their significant contributions to Israel’s security.

Addressing the anticipated escalation in Gaza, Zamir announced a major mobilization effort, stating, “This week we are issuing tens of thousands of orders to our reservists in order to enhance and expand our operation in Gaza. We are increasing pressure in order to bring back the hostages and defeat Hamas. We will operate in additional areas and destroy all infrastructure above and below ground.” The expanded operation aims to intensify military pressure on Hamas to secure the release of hostages and dismantle the terror organization’s capabilities, including its extensive network of tunnels and command structures.

Zamir praised the Shayetet 13 unit, saying, “You, soldiers of the flotilla, are a unique unit that has operated throughout the war with distinction and brought significant achievements with your special capabilities.” He emphasized the strategic importance of naval operations, adding, “We will continue to strengthen the naval dimension - special operations at sea and from the sea, as part of the strategic capabilities of the IDF and the State of Israel.” Highlighting the collective effort, he noted, “We have great appreciation for all our reservists, the combination of all forces together - regular, career, reserves, frontline troops, and the Home Front Command - is what we need to fulfill our missions.” The announcement signals a significant escalation in IDF operations, leveraging the elite capabilities of units like Shayetet 13 to achieve decisive outcomes in Gaza.