IDF chief: ‘No choice—pressure must be increased’ on Hamas

With the collapse of the ceasefire and renewed fighting in Gaza, Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir has called for an escalation against the Hamas terrorist group.

“Hamas is stalling for time—this is a strategy, not just a tactic,” Zamir said in security discussions, according to a Channel 12 News report on Monday. “The IDF’s actions are hurting them and causing instability, but they are not leading to the release of hostages. Therefore, we have no choice—we must increase the pressure.”

Meanwhile, the IDF and the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) continued expanded military operations in Gaza on Sunday, targeting key Hamas operatives and infrastructure.

Israeli forces killed senior Hamas operative Ismail Barhoum in a precision airstrike inside Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis. Hamas confirmed his death, identifying him as a political bureau member.

Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that Barhoum had replaced Essam al-Da’alis as Hamas’ prime minister in Gaza and praised the successful strike. However, the IDF referred only to “a key terrorist” without naming him.

On Monday afternoon, the IDF and Shin Bet confirmed Barhoum’s death, describing him as head of Hamas’s finances and institutions within its political bureau and al-Da’alis’ successor.

Barhoum played a central role in Hamas’s military and financial operations, managing funds to support attacks against Israel. These funds sustained Hamas operations, financed terrorist attacks, and purchased weapons, posing a threat to Israeli soldiers and civilians.

The IDF emphasized that the strike followed extensive intelligence gathering and was conducted with precision munitions to minimize collateral damage. “Hamas cynically exploits civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, for terrorist activities—violating international law,” the army stated.

As part of broader operations, the IDF has attacked hundreds of Hamas targets across Gaza in recent days, aiming to degrade the group’s military capabilities. Among the high-profile eliminations:

• Ahmad Salman ‘Awad Shamali, deputy commander of Hamas’s Gaza Brigade, who played a key role in planning and executing the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Shamali was responsible for military buildup and operational planning.

• Jamil ‘Amar Jamil Wadiya, commander of the Shuja’iyya Battalion, who had led Hamas forces in combat against Israeli troops and was involved in a 2011 anti-tank missile attack that killed an Israeli student.

In another major blow to Hamas leadership, an Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza killed Salah Bardawil, a senior member of Hamas’s political bureau. Bardawil was a key figure in the organization’s strategic and military planning, and his death significantly impacts Hamas’s ability to coordinate attacks, according to the IDF.

The IDF also announced that the 36th Division has been redeployed to its Southern Command after completing maneuvers in Lebanon and extended operations on the northern front. The military is now reinforcing its presence along the Gaza border, with Home Front Command updating security directives. Katz approved moving border communities to a full operational alert level, including restrictions on public gatherings.

Israeli forces, led by the 252nd and 143rd Divisions, continue to expand the security perimeter inside Gaza, dismantling Hamas’s terrorist infrastructure. Air force and naval units are providing close support, targeting Hamas’s weapons facilities, rocket launchers and fighting positions.

“The IDF and Shin Bet will continue to operate against Hamas and eliminate threats to Israeli civilians,” the military stated.