Former tank commander Eyal Zamir will on Wednesday become Israel's new armed forces chief, inheriting the task at a crucial time for the military after it acknowledged its "complete failure" to prevent Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack.

Previously director of the defence ministry, Zamir will replace outgoing chief of staff Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, who resigned admitting he failed to fulfil his mandate.

Zamir, 59, is being sworn in at a sensitive time in Israel's war with Hamas, with the ceasefire that took effect on January 19 hanging in the balance.

Announcing his appointment last month, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had high hopes that Zamir would help achieve Israel's goal of "absolute victory" against Hamas.

Zamir will also take over operations in the occupied West Bank, where the military has deployed tanks in recent weeks for the first time in 20 years.

His appointment also comes at a moment of high tension for Israel with its arch-foe Iran.

Zamir wrote in a 2022 policy paper for the Washington........

© Al Monitor