The Israeli Chief of Staff approves the plan to occupy Gaza City
The Israeli army announced on Wednesday that Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir approved the plan to occupy Gaza City.
The Israeli army statement said: “The Chief of Staff, General Eyal Zamir, held a discussion today (Wednesday) during which he approved the central idea of the IDF’s plan of action in the Gaza Strip, with the participation of the General Staff Forum, representatives of the Shin Bet, and other commanders”.
The statement added: “During the discussion, the IDF’s achievements to date were presented, including the offensive in the Zeitoun area that began yesterday… The central idea of the plan for the next steps in the Gaza Strip was also presented and approved, in accordance with the directives of the political echelon”.
The Israeli Chief of Staff emphasized the importance of raising the forces’ readiness and preparing to call up reserve forces, while conducting refresher training and providing a breathing space in preparation for upcoming missions.
For his part, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called on Wednesday for the dismissal of Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir unless he expels those close to him, whom he described as a conspiracy cell.
Ben-Gvir’s call supports Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, amid a dispute between the latter and Zamir over the plan to reoccupy the Gaza Strip and its threat to the lives of Israeli prisoners.
Ben-Gvir, leader of the far-right Religious Zionism party, said on X: “If the chief of staff doesn’t expel the conspiracy cell, he must be expelled”.
Ben-Gvir accompanied his post with a composite image of Zamir and five other figures, including former Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi (2007-2011), former head of the army’s operations division, retired Major General Israel Ziv, and former army spokesman Avi Benayahu.
On Tuesday evening, Haaretz and The Times of Israel newspapers reported that Zamir had told senior officers and officials outside the military that Netanyahu’s family and aides were seeking to oust him over his opposition to the Gaza City operation.
For days, Israel has been witnessing a sharp polarization between the opposition and the loyalists, against the backdrop of Netanyahu’s plan to completely reoccupy the Gaza Strip, endangering the lives of prisoners.
Netanyahu was asked in an interview with channel i24 on Tuesday evening whether he felt he was on a mission on behalf of the Jewish people.
He replied, “I am on a generational mission… If you ask me if I have a sense of mission, historically and spiritually, the answer is yes,” adding, “I am connected and deeply attached to the vision of Greater Israel”.
On Friday, Israel’s security cabinet approved a plan proposed by Netanyahu to completely reoccupy the Gaza Strip, sparking protests in Israel that it tantamount to a “death sentence” for the hostages.
Netanyahu continued, “The goal remains to end the war, defeat the enemies, and release all hostages, living and dead, as part of a single final deal”.
The Israeli opposition and hostages’ families assert that Netanyahu is seeking partial deals that would allow the war to continue while ensuring his continued rule, as he fears the collapse of his government if the most extremist faction, which refuses to end the war, withdraws.
Locally, Netanyahu is being tried on corruption charges that warrant imprisonment if convicted.
The International Criminal Court is seeking his arrest on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity against Palestinians in Gaza.
Expressing his commitment to the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, Netanyahu called for allowing civilians to leave the Strip.
He added that millions of people have fled Syria as a result of the war, as well as those in Ukraine and Afghanistan, and asked, “Why must Gaza be closed?”
Netanyahu stressed that Israel is in talks with other countries to receive Palestinians from Gaza.
On Tuesday evening, the Associated Press reported that Israel was discussing with South Sudan the possibility of transferring Palestinians from Gaza there.
