Google Alert – BD Army
Signs of a rift over strategy emerged as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepared to announce a new phase in the war, after he said Israel must “complete” the defeat of Hamas in order to secure the release of hostages still held in Gaza.
The Israeli press, citing officials speaking on condition of anonymity, has predicted an escalation of operations, including in densely populated areas where hostages are believed to be held, such as Gaza City and refugee camps.
The reports also said Netanyahu and his cabinet would order a full military occupation of Gaza, sparking dissension from the army’s Chief of Staff, Eyal Zamir.
On Tuesday, Netanyahu held a restricted three-hour meeting with security chiefs to discuss options for the continuation of the war, his office said in a statement.
At the meeting, Zamir reportedly warned that a full occupation would be like “walking into a trap,” according to public broadcaster KAN.
The army chief suggested alternatives to a full occupation, such as an encirclement of specific areas where Hamas is believed to be hunkering down, according to the Channel 12 broadcaster.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced pushback from the head of the military over his proposal to seize remaining areas of Gaza it doesn’t already control during a tense three-hour meeting, three Israeli officials said.
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 Tuesday meeting said.
“AFP, REUTERS