Israeli military chief opposes Netanyahu's plan to ‘occupy' all of Gaza: Report
In a Monday statement provided to NBC News, Netanyahu's office announced that the Israeli prime minister had made the decision to 'occupy all of the Gaza Strip, including areas where hostages may be held.'
Three anonymous Israeli officials told Reuters that Eyal Zamir, the chief of the general staff of the Israel Defense Forces, warned Netanyahu during a three-hour meeting on Tuesday that the Israeli military could become trapped in Gaza if it attempts to occupy the rest of the area and that the total occupation of the Gaza Strip could lead to the remaining Israeli hostages being harmed by Hamas.
Reuters reported that the Israeli military has confirmed it already has control of roughly 75% of Gaza after launching a major military operation in the region following the Hamas terrorist organization's attack against Israel in October of 2023. The outlet noted that the Israeli military has consistently expressed opposition to annexing the Gaza territory, building Jewish settlements in the area, or imposing military rule in the area.
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In a Wednesday statement on X, formerly Twitter, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said, 'Hamas's refusal to release the hostages requires making additional decisions regarding how to advance the war's objectives: eliminating Hamas while creating the conditions for the release of the hostages and ensuring the safety of Israeli communities from now and forever.'
Katz emphasized that as the military's chief of staff, Zamir has the 'right and duty' to 'express his position' on the war in Gaza 'in the appropriate forums.' However, Katz said that the Israeli military will follow the direction of the Israeli government after final decisions are made by the country's 'political echelon.'
'The IDF will execute them with determination and professionalism—as it has done so far in all sectors—until the war's objectives are achieved,' Katz stated. 'As the Defense Minister responsible for the IDF on behalf of the government, I must ensure that these things are carried out—and so it will be.'
In a statement on X, Netanyahu's office confirmed that the Israeli prime minister met with security officials for three hours on Tuesday.
'Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a three-hour security discussion today, in which options for proceeding with the campaign in Gaza were presented by the IDF Chief-of-Staff,' Netanyahu's office wrote. 'The IDF is prepared to carry out any decision made by the Security Cabinet.'
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