IDF Tightens Approval for Targeted Killings in Gaza to Chief of Staff Only

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has tightened its rules of engagement in the Gaza Strip, mandating that all targeted killings now require personal approval from the Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir. This change follows a recent decision by Israel's political leadership and updates the security establishment's protocols for authorizing strikes in Gaza.

Under the new policy, immediate threats encountered by forces on the ground can still be neutralized without prior approval, allowing soldiers to act swiftly in urgent situations. However, premeditated strikes against targets not posing an immediate danger, including terrorist operatives under intelligence surveillance, must now receive direct authorization from the Chief of Staff. Previously, such operations could be approved by lower-ranking commanders such as regional division heads or brigade commanders.

A security official explained that this directive was issued in coordination with political authorities amid ongoing understandings between Israel, the United States, and mediators engaged with Hamas. The official noted that the policy shift is expected to significantly reduce the number of targeted killings, a trend already reflected in the recent decline of strikes conducted in Gaza over the past days.