For the first time, senior political officials leveled direct criticism at IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir after he told confidants that there was a deal on the table and that Israel should take it. Speaking Monday morning to Israel Hayom, the officials said, "The same man who presented a plan for Hamas' defeat to the cabinet is now briefing that all of Israel's goals have been met, the war should stop, and we should move forward with a deal. The gap between the way he presented himself before taking office and the way he is acting today is like night and day."
The criticism came amid reports over the past 24 hours attributing statements to Zamir suggesting that the army has already achieved its main objectives. "He didn't even deny the remarks," one senior political source complained.
The growing rift between Israel's military and political leadership follows Zamir's well known opposition to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposal to take control of all of Gaza, including the central refugee camps. This tension has been compounded by disputes between Defense Minister Israel Katz and the chief of staff, even as Israel prepares for an intensified new stage of fighting in Gaza.
Over the weekend, Zamir visited the Binyamin region in the Judea and Samaria and spoke about expanding the campaign in Gaza: "We are committed to act responsibly – alert, prepared, and sharp on the operational front. The operations in the refugee camps are thorough and significant, uprooting the roots of terrorism to prevent it from regrowing."
Earlier this month, Israel Hayom reported that sources close to Zamir said he believes conquering the entire Gaza Strip would be the wrong move. They cited two main concerns: the danger to the lives of hostages still held by Hamas terrorists, and the heavy toll on IDF troops after months of continuous combat. The sources stressed that "the only considerations guiding him are the defeat of Hamas and the return of the hostages, and he will not be dragged into strategic traps."
