Israeli war cabinet splits over Gaza plans as Zamir issues warning
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Tensions erupted in the Israeli war cabinet as Eyal Zamir warned of risks to captives in Gaza, opposing plans for a long-term occupation.
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Israeli soldiers watch the northern Gaza Strip from southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
A recent meeting of the Israeli security cabinet turned highly tense during discussions on military plans for the Gaza Strip, CNN reported Friday, citing an Israeli official.
According to the source, several ministers shouted at Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir after he raised a series of concerns during the session. Among them was a warning about a serious and imminent threat to Israeli captives held in Gaza. All of these warnings, however, were reportedly rejected by cabinet members.
The exchange reflects deep internal divisions over the course of the Israeli war on Gaza and sharp differences in views regarding the available options for the territory.
On Thursday, Israel Hayom cited Israeli military sources as saying Zamir intended to try to persuade the security cabinet that occupying Gaza was not the right choice, and to discuss the long duration and significant military and economic repercussions such a plan would entail.
Zamir demands war strategy
The Israeli Army Radio reported that the conflict between Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and the political leadership has reached an extremely tense level, as Zamir insists on receiving clear strategic direction from the government about whether to prolong the war on Gaza.
Military reporter Doron Kadosh stated that Zamir raised concerns, noting that the war cabinet had not met in a significant amount of time, leaving the army without clear guidance on whether to proceed with the offensive, and that commanders were not being given decisive directives.
Kadosh also reported that Zamir is advocating for a negotiated deal, emphasizing the need for flexibility and intensified efforts to secure an agreement, adding that the army has signaled its readiness to accept any terms, including a broader ceasefire agreement that could bring the war to an end.
