Israel’s military chief, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, has warned against a full takeover of Gaza, citing concerns that it could trap the military and put hostages at risk. The warning came in a meeting with top officials on Tuesday evening, where Zamir advised encircling Gaza City and other neighborhoods to minimize risks.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been considering ordering the “conquest” of Gaza, but his plan would face opposition from within Israel’s government and military leadership. The Israeli military already controls approximately 75% of Gaza, which has left much of the territory in ruins and triggered a humanitarian crisis.
Netanyahu is set to urge a meeting of the security cabinet on Thursday to support the full “conquest” of Gaza, but his plan would face opposition from far-right parties who have called for broadening Israel’s bombardment and siege of Gaza. The Israeli military has recommended pursuing diplomacy to end the war, while Netanyahu’s government has pushed for maximalist war goals.
The warning from Zamir underscores growing discord between Israel’s military leadership and its political echelon. Polls show that the majority of Israelis favor an end to the war in exchange for the release of remaining hostages in Gaza.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/06/middleeast/israel-gaza-conquest-military-netanyahu-intl