IDF CoS Eyal Zamir: No more "clearing out" bases for holiday

A decades-long practice of emptying out bases save for skeleton crews during Jewish holidays is suspended until further notice, per a decision by IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, according to a report today (Monday) by Times of Israel.

According to a longstanding practice in the IDF known as "shutdown" or "hadmama" (literally: silencing), military bases and entire units would almost entirely leave for home during the end of the summer or during the Jewish holiday season to be with friends and family.

The bases would then be left with skeleton crews to maintain bare-bones functions and protection from infiltration or attacks.

IDF bases on October 7 were operating on such a basis, with multiple senior officers on leave or away from the base, about half of the needed soldiers on the Gaza border, and general atmosphere of inaction. This state of affairs made it dangerously easy for Hamas units to infiltrate and directly attack and kill and capture soldiers on a given base.

IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said the suspension of this policy, which has been in force ever since October 7, will continue. There will continue to be normal furlough and vacation time for soldiers and officers, but the emptying out of bases and unit areas will no longer be allowed for security reasons.

The IDF has been preparing for the possibility of a renewal of the war in the Gaza Strip ever since the end of phase one of the hostage deal, in the event that Hamas refuses to continue the deal on terms acceptable to Israel.

According to open reports and defense sources speaking to Israeli media, a renewed offensive will be far more intensive than the previous operations in the Gaza Strip after October 7, including heavier air strikes and ground maneuvers.

Hamas will also not be able to count on humanitarian aid, water, and electricity providing its soldiers with needed supplies as it did when Joe Biden was President and his administration forced Israel to freely let these flow into the Strip, regardless of whether Hamas would benefit.