Zamir demands Gaza war strategy as rift with Israeli cabinet grows
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"Israel's" Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir urges political leaders to define a Gaza war strategy, warning of risks from indecision and prolonged occupation.
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Israeli soldiers drive on their armored personnel carrier back from inside Gaza, Tuesday, July 29, 2025 (AP)
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.
The reporter further explained that the Israeli military's position is to maintain control over all currently held areas along Gaza's border in any future agreement, with Israeli army sources stating that the forces are prepared to handle the consequences of compromise, even if "Israel" is forced to make concessions.
IOF to put the leadership between two choices
According to the Israeli Army Radio, the Chief of Staff has privately cautioned that maintaining an extended presence in Gaza "endangers Israeli troops, benefits Hamas strategically, and exacerbates the military's attrition," leaving the implications of this assessment unresolved.
Facing this situation, the military will present the political leadership with two options if no deal is reached: either a full-scale occupation of Gaza or a strategy of siege and attrition.
As reported by the radio, the army rejects the complete occupation plan. Zamir explained that although "occupying all of Gaza is militarily possible and might take only months, fully securing the territory, including underground tunnel networks, would likely require several years."
The Israeli army's recommended alternative centers on encircling Gaza and depleting its capabilities from secured perimeter zones, with the Israeli army chief arguing this approach is necessary to prevent Hamas from gaining the upper hand through prolonged asymmetric warfare that would systematically erode "Israel's" military advantage.
