Division within Israeli army general staff over Gaza occupation

Ron Ben-Yishai, a columnist for Yedioth Ahronoth, said there is disagreement inside the Israeli General Staff over the issue of occupying Gaza City.

According to him, Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir leads a coalition that favors a partial deal for the release of some prisoners alongside gradual military pressure. Zamir’s plan includes besieging Gaza, evacuating residents, carrying out incremental strikes, and allowing humanitarian aid in order to restore international legitimacy.

The newspaper wrote that the aim of this plan is to reduce risks to the hostages and minimize army casualties. Another coalition of generals, however, opposes a partial deal, arguing that it would give Hamas an opportunity to strengthen its position. These generals advocate for the immediate occupation of Gaza City, exploiting what they see as Hamas’s current vulnerable state. They believe a swift takeover would destroy Hamas’s tunnel network and guarantee the security of Israeli settlements around Gaza.

This group is concerned that delays could result in the loss of hostages, erode international legitimacy, and prolong the war for years.

The analyst emphasized that the rift between the two coalitions is professional rather than ideological, unlike the political disputes within the cabinet over settlements. The cabinet’s decision has been presented as a middle-ground approach: negotiating a comprehensive deal while maintaining military pressure and preparing to occupy Gaza if the negotiations fail.