Israeli cabinet rift over Gaza civilian evacuation

Channel 12 said that during the session, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir clashed sharply with cabinet ministers including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.

According to the Hebrew outlet, Zamir stated in the meeting: “It is difficult for the army to set a timetable for evacuating Palestinian civilians from Gaza.”

In response, Smotrich told him: “That is not what the political leadership instructed me. You don’t want to defeat Hamas. We tasked you to act quickly. Cut off water and electricity for those who refuse evacuation. Make them either starve to death or surrender under siege. That is what we want, and you are capable of doing it.”

The report added that Zamir fired back: “You don’t understand anything. You don’t even know the difference between a battalion and a brigade. This takes time.”