Summary
- IDF Chief Eyal Zamir canceled a US visit scheduled
Tuesday.
- Chose to stay in Israel amid Gaza ceasefire stalemate.
- Decision reflects focus on sensitive and ongoing Gaza
talks.
- Zamir has been Israel's Chief of General Staff since
March 2025.
- Visit cancellation signals high-level military
attention to the Gaza conflict.
Zamir was scheduled to attend the retirement
ceremony of Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla at the US Central Command (CENTCOM) headquarters in Tampa, Florida, as well as a series of talks with the country's
top defense and intelligence leaders in Washington.
In addition to meeting with leaders of Jewish
organizations, he was scheduled to meet with senior U.S. defense officials in
Washington, including at the Pentagon. He was to meet with the heads of the
CIA, US military intelligence, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff.
The sides were scheduled to meet in Washington to talk about the lessons learned from
Operation Rising Lion and how the IDF and US military could work together more
closely in the future.
Since Israel moved into CENTCOM's purview in
2021, Kurilla and Zamir have developed an exceptionally tight working
relationship. Kurilla arrived in Israel early Friday for a final consultation
visit prior to transferring command later this month.
The American four-star general visited the
Western Wall (Kotel) in Jerusalem's Old City for the first time within hours of
his arrival. Under the direction of Heritage Foundation head Mordechai (Suli)
Eliav and Western Wall Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, Kurilla prayed for peace in
both countries, the safe return of the prisoners, and the health of IDF and US
forces.
He placed a note between the ancient stones and wrote in the guest book:
“Thank you for a fantastic visit to the Western Wall. May you find peace.”
Kurilla told his hosts that although this is his
40th trip to Israel, it was the first time he had visited Judaism’s holiest
site. “My mother always told me that for supporting Israel, God would repay
me,” he added, according to people present. The general also toured the new
“Gateway to Heaven” multimedia exhibit and the recently uncovered Second
Temple–period excavations beneath the plaza.
According to information obtained by The Post,
Zamir had made his US withdrawal contingent on the creation of a long-lasting
truce in Gaza.
He came to the conclusion that "his place
is here" after that didn't happen and as public outcry over the hostage
situation increased. The trip's cancellation sends two messages: first, it
acknowledges the strategic value of in-person negotiations with Washington;
second, it shows that operational and moral obligations take precedence over
even the most esteemed diplomatic schedule.
The IDF would
"continue to apply relentless pressure on Hamas until every one of our people comes home,"
Zamir assured
commanders during a tour of the Strip on Friday. Captives' families have been
protesting outside government offices almost every day; 50 hostages, both dead
and alive, are still in Gaza.
Liaison officials from the IDF Planning Directorate and the Defense Ministry's Washington Mission will continue staff-level discussions in the interim, despite Zamir's Washington meetings being postponed. Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, Kurilla's replacement, is anticipated to take over later this month, and sources stated that Zamir will probably receive a follow-up invitation as soon as circumstances permit.
What is the significance of Zamir canceling his US visit at this critical time?
Zamir’s presence in Israel ensures close,
real-time military leadership on the ground as ceasefire talks are deadlocked.
Without progress from Hamas on hostages, he expects combat operations to
continue, requiring tight military coordination.
His cancellation signals to the Israeli
political and military leadership the gravity of the situation and the need for
clear strategic decisions on whether to push forward with continued military
campaigns or pursue a comprehensive ceasefire and hostage deal.
The move reflects the critical phase where
military plans against Hamas in Gaza have reached government-set objectives,
such as controlling significant territory in Gaza, but the political end to the
conflict remains unresolved.