Recruitment of new Gaza division commander sign of defeat

The appointment of a new commander for the Israeli army’s Gaza Division is a proof of Israel’s admission of defeat in the Gaza offensive, Hamas spokesman, Sami Abu Zuhri said, dubbing the move an episode in a series of sanctions imposed on Israeli war “losers.”

Abu Zuhri’s statement came following the appointment of Brigadier General Itai Virov as new Gaza Division Commander, replacing Mikey Edelstein who served in this post for the past two years.

Edelstein will serve as commander of the Sinai Brigade and head of the infantry training center in Negev, Israeli military sources said.

The ceremony, held at the division headquarters, was attended by the General Officer Commanding of the Southern front, Sami Turgeman.

Meanwhile, Israeli military sources on Sunday said the Israeli army will carry out investigations into the operations performed by the Givati Brigade unit in Rafah.

The investigation will make use of the suspected capture of an Israeli soldier as the most efficient investigation tool to refute projected accusation, to be charged by the UN and human rights organizations, over Israel’s perpetration of war crimes during the notorious Rafah massacre.

Human rights organizations documented the mass-murder of 190 Palestinians in Rafah after Israel stepped up its offensive under pretext that an Israeli soldier had disappeared in its vicinity.