Netanyahu, IDF Chief Clash Over Gaza War Plan
As the battle for Gaza intensifies, Israel’s top leaders are sharply divided over evacuation plans, military strategy, and the path to peace, with the clock ticking toward Netanyahu’s Washington meeting.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir engaged in a contentious exchange during a cabinet meeting last Thursday night, (July 3), over a proposed plan to relocate Gazan civilians to the southern part of the Strip and impose a siege on the north. Hebrew media outlets Channel 12 and Ynet reported the details of the closed-door discussion, highlighting significant discord within the Israeli leadership.
The tension arose as National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich accused Zamir of failing to follow orders, attributing a perceived stalemate in Gaza to his leadership. Zamir reportedly countered, “You always say there is a stalemate in the Strip. There is no stalemate in the Strip — we’re doing exactly what you tasked us with. I suggest people watch what they say about us, supposedly not doing what we were tasked with. You certainly don’t need to be reminded that we have soldiers dying in battle.”
Netanyahu responded by urging the IDF to develop a “wide-scale evacuation plan” for the population to move south, rejecting the idea of a military government but insisting on not leaving Hamas intact. Smotrich escalated the debate by advocating for a siege on northern Gaza, suggesting it would swiftly dismantle Hamas. Zamir, however, expressed skepticism, questioning, “Do you want a military government [in Gaza]? Who will govern 2 million people?” He warned that such a plan could lead to loss of control, potentially inciting the displaced and hungry population against IDF forces.
The prime minister dismissed Zamir’s concerns, demanding, “Prepare an evacuation plan — I want to see it when I return from Washington.” Netanyahu is scheduled to meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, where a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas is expected to be announced. His return is set for Thursday, July 10, 2025.
Amid these discussions, Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s dual objectives of defeating Hamas and freeing hostages, declaring during a visit to the Eilat Ashkelon Pipeline Company headquarters in Ashkelon, “I am telling you, there will be no Hamas. There will be no Hamastan. We are not going back to that. It is over. We will release all our hostages.” He dismissed suggestions that these goals are contradictory, insisting they are complementary.
The IDF, under Zamir’s leadership, reported last week that it would soon “reach the lines” set by the government in the latest Gaza offensive, which began in May and aimed to control 75% of the Strip. By Friday, July 4, the military stated it had attained operational control of roughly 65% of the enclave, eliminating over 100 Hamas operatives, including senior commander Hakem al-Issa, in the past week. Since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, the Israeli Air Force has targeted over 7,500 terror sites, including weapons caches, tunnels, and rocket launchers.
The ongoing military campaign is framed as a pursuit of war goals and the protection of Israeli civilians, with Netanyahu reportedly working with Trump on a plan that could end the conflict, recommit to a two-state solution, and normalize relations with Saudi Arabia and Syria. However, ministers Ben Gvir and Smotrich oppose any withdrawal from Gaza or hints at Palestinian statehood, with recent reports of their attempts to form a united front against a hostage-ceasefire deal being denied by Smotrich’s spokesman as media manipulation.
According to right wing TV host and commentator Yinon Magal, sources in the cabinet added to the harsh criticism of Chief of Staff Zamir:
"The army does what it wants and doesn’t do what it doesn’t want. They are either dismissive or failing, and then they complain. They fail in managing the civilian effort and then say there’s no choice but to introduce aid across the entire Strip. Zamir opposed last night that we hold a vote on evacuating all Gazans to the Rafah area, but he has no answer on how to win and how to free the remaining hostages in any other way. Zamir sounds like Herzi, which is 180 degrees opposite of what he promised before being appointed Chief of Staff. The clashes with him are exactly like what happened with Herzi. But despite his opposition, we held a vote and decided on the civilian evacuation plan to Rafah, and we will continue until the breaking or elimination of Hamas."