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Netanyahu plans to discuss Gaza strategy with ministers Thursday- Defense Minister Katz supports military chief's right to voice opinions
- Hamas videos of emaciated hostages spark global outrage
- Military chief warns troops could be trapped in Gaza
JERUSALEM/CAIRO, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Israel's military chief has pushed back against Benjamin Netanyahu's plans to seize areas of Gaza it doesn't already control, three Israeli officials said, as the prime minister faces increasing pressure over the war both at home and abroad.
During a tense, three-hour meeting on Tuesday, Eyal Zamir, the military chief of staff, warned the prime minister that taking the rest of Gaza could trap the military in the territory, which it withdrew from two decades ago, and could lead to harm to the hostages being held there, the sources briefed on the meeting said.
The Israeli military says it already controls 75% of Gaza after nearly two years of war, which began when militant group Hamas attacked southern Israeli communities in October 2023. It has repeatedly opposed imposing military rule, annexing the territory, and rebuilding Jewish settlements there - policies advocated by some government members.
Netanyahu is under intense international pressure to reach a ceasefire in the coastal enclave, which has been reduced to rubble Most of the population of about 2 million has been displaced multiple times and aid groups say residents are on the verge of famine
The U.N. has called reports about a possible expansion of Israel's military operations in Gaza "deeply alarming" if true.
The military, which accuses Hamas of operating amongst civilians, has at times avoided areas where intelligence suggested hostages were held and former captives have said their captors threatened to kill them if Israeli forces approached.
Netanyahu told Zamir that so far the military had failed to bring about the release of the hostages, the officials said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. Most of those freed so far came about as a result of diplomatic negotiations.
Defense Minister Israel Katz wrote on X Wednesday that the military chief has both the right and the duty to voice his opinion, but said that the military would carry out the government’s decisions until all war objectives are achieved.
The prime minister's office confirmed the meeting with Zamir on Tuesday but declined to comment further and the military did not respond to a request for comment.