Israeli Army Chief Lieutenant General Yaal Zamir has declared that the war in Gaza will continue until Hamas returns the bodies of all Israeli hostages killed during the conflict. Speaking at a conference of IDF lieutenant commanders in Jerusalem on October 27, Zamir emphasized that the mission remains “sacred,” with two key goals — recovering the bodies of Israeli hostages and sustaining the campaign against Hamas. He stressed that the Israel Defense Forces are committed to fulfilling their moral and professional duty with courage and determination. The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages. Israel’s subsequent offensive in Gaza has resulted in over 67,000 Palestinian deaths. Although a ceasefire brokered by former U.S. President Donald Trump began on October 10, the issue of returning the bodies of deceased hostages continues to hinder lasting peace.