Inside Gaza: Defense Chief Challenges Military Command
With critical decisions looming, Israel's defense minister tours Gaza and drops pointed remarks amid mounting tensions at the top.
Twitter
Defense Minister Israel Katz paid a high-profile visit to Gaza on Tuesday, signaling the government's intention to press forward with its strategic vision for the enclave - despite reported pushback from Israel’s military brass.
Accompanied by Southern Command Chief Maj. Gen. Yaniv Asor and other top officers, Katz met with frontline soldiers, both regular and reservists, and assessed current IDF positions in key areas, including the strategically vital “Ridge 70.”
The visit comes as internal disagreements over the war's endgame surface between the military leadership and political echelon. According to recent reports, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir has expressed reservations about plans for permanent Israeli presence in parts of Gaza - plans heavily favored by Katz and some cabinet members.
Though he did not directly reference the rift, Katz’s statement carried a clear message: “Once the political leadership decides, the military will carry out the mission professionally - as it has in every theater of this war. As Minister of Defense, it's my job to ensure that happens.”
He reiterated that the war’s objectives remain unchanged: the defeat of Hamas and the creation of conditions for the return of the hostages. To secure Israeli communities long-term, Katz called for “a permanent IDF presence in a security perimeter within Gaza,” echoing the lessons of October 7.
Katz’s comments underscore growing pressure on the Netanyahu government to define its vision for “the day after” in Gaza - amid international scrutiny, internal fractures, and a nation still reeling from nearly a year of war.