All Israeli strikes in Gaza to require IDF chief's approval as military tightens policies - report

Lead

The Israeli military is set to require approval from IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir for all strikes in the Gaza Strip, as part of a broader tightening of attack policies, according to an Army Radio report citing security sources. The report, covered by the Jerusalem Post, said the new requirement replaces the previous standard, which only needed the approval of a division commander. The change comes amid a series of strikes that have killed multiple militants from different armed groups in Gaza.

Coverage Comparison

The Jerusalem Post reported on the policy change, citing Army Radio's report. According to the Post, Army Radio noted that the recent reduction of IDF attacks in Gaza is a direct result of the policy changes, in addition to a general reduction in targets since the beginning of the campaign following the October 7, 2023, massacre. The report also referenced the lack of any IDF strikes in Gaza over the past 48 hours, with the exception of a single attack early on Monday. The IDF Spokesperson's Unit, when reached for comment, said that "the escalation of the policy of attacks in Gaza is a decision of the political echelon."

Separately, the Jerusalem Post and TASS — English both reported on the IDF's confirmations of multiple strikes that killed militants from various groups. Both outlets reported the killings of Alaa Imad Khamis Tarams from the Army of Islam organization, Hassan Ibrahim Shehadeh Qahman from Islamic Jihad, and Ahmad Khudar, a commander in Hamas's Jabalya Battalion. TASS described the three as "armed radicals" and quoted the IDF as saying they "attempted to advance terror attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops, and were eliminated in order to remove the threat."

The Jerusalem Post also reported on additional strikes that killed two Hamas commanders: Salem Jamal Abd al-Rahman Abu Labad, a Nukhba commander who had infiltrated Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7 massacre, and Muhammad Abd al-Nasser Muhammad Khatib, a commander in Hamas' Maghazi Battalion. The Post also mentioned the killing of Mahmoud Fatair, a Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) Central Gaza Brigade commander, in the Deir al-Balah area.

Key Claims

• All Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip are set to require the approval of IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, as reported by Army Radio and covered by the Jerusalem Post. The requirement is part of a tightening of attack policies that previously required only a division commander's approval.
• The recent reduction of IDF attacks in Gaza is attributed to the policy changes, as well as a general reduction in targets since the beginning of the campaign, according to the Army Radio report.
• The IDF confirmed killing Alaa Imad Khamis Tarams, a member of the Army of Islam organization, in Gaza City on Saturday.
• The IDF confirmed killing Hassan Ibrahim Shehadeh Qahman, a member of Islamic Jihad, also in Gaza City on Saturday.
• The IDF confirmed killing Ahmad Khudar, a commander in Hamas's Jabalya Battalion, in a strike in the northern Gaza Strip last week.
• The IDF stated that all three terrorists had attempted to advance terror attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers, and were eliminated to remove the threat.
• The IDF announced killing Salem Jamal Abd al-Rahman Abu Labad, a Hamas Nukhba commander, in southern Gaza on Saturday.
• The IDF announced killing Muhammad Abd al-Nasser Muhammad Khatib, a commander in Hamas' Maghazi Battalion, in a separate strike on Friday.
• The IDF confirmed killing Mahmoud Fatair, a Palestinian Islamic Jihad Central Gaza Brigade commander, in a strike in the Deir al-Balah area, noting his participation in the October 7 attacks.