Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a critical meeting with senior security officials on Tuesday to finalize strategic plans for the Gaza Strip. The meeting took place amid escalating tensions between him and IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Egyal Zamir regarding the prospect of full occupation of the enclave by Israeli forces.
Israel: Three-hour Netanyahu meeting on Gaza strategy
The Prime Minister’s office issued a brief statement, noting that Netanyahu “held a limited security discussion lasting approximately 3 hours, during which the Chief of Staff presented options for continuing the campaign in the Gaza Strip.”
The statement added that “the IDF is ready to implement any decision made by the security cabinet,” in apparent reference to the reported objections by the IDF chief to plans for Gaza reoccupation. Tuesday’s meeting also included Defense Minister Israel Katz, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, and IDF Operations Directorate head Major General Itzik Cohen.
Ministers excluded from the meeting
Notably, far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, both strong supporters of full Israeli occupation of Gaza, were excluded from the meeting, according to Israel Hayom.
Netanyahu reportedly informed these ministers this week that he would seek cabinet support for a plan to fully occupy the Gaza Strip, despite objections from within the IDF.
Risk to hostages from full occupation
Following the meeting, an anonymous source familiar with the details told public broadcaster Kan that Netanyahu is strongly leaning toward occupation of the Palestinian enclave. Other Israeli news networks, including Ynet and i24 News, reported similar accounts.
One source told Kan that the government knows the military campaign for full control of Gaza would likely endanger the remaining hostages, of whom 20 are believed to still be alive. The report emphasized that the IDF and defense establishment remain opposed to the plan, partly because it puts the hostages at risk of execution by their captors.
Security cabinet decision awaited
Although no date has been set yet, the full Security Cabinet is expected to convene to formally consider the strategy for continuing operations in Gaza and the possibility of full occupation.
The Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that today’s meeting took place, without providing further details, emphasizing that “the Chief of Staff presented options for continuing the campaign in Gaza” and adding that “the Israeli military is ready to implement any decision made by the Security Cabinet.”
We must take “all necessary measures to defeat Hamas,” Katz said
Earlier, Katz clarified that Israel must take “all necessary measures to defeat Hamas” in the Gaza Strip. “Defeating Hamas in Gaza, while creating conditions for the return of hostages, are the basic objectives of the Gaza war and we must proceed with all necessary actions to achieve them,” the Israeli minister stated.
Katz visited troops in the Gaza Strip during which he explained that he “has formed his opinion regarding the security steps and political steps that Israel must take to ensure achievement of the war’s objectives.”
“Once the political leadership has made the necessary decisions, the military, as it has done on all fronts of the war so far, will implement the determined policy in a professional manner,” the minister said according to the statement.
“We must guarantee the security of Israeli communities by maintaining a permanent Israeli military presence in a regional security zone at strategic points in Gaza, from where attacks against communities and arms smuggling to Gaza can be prevented,” he stated.
Reactions and political tensions
Earlier Tuesday, reports of Zamir’s reluctance prompted harsh condemnation from the far-right and Netanyahu loyalists, including his son. Ben Gvir urged Zamir to publicly commit to executing orders from elected officials, even if they decide to occupy the Strip.
Netanyahu’s eldest son, Yair, also took to social media from his Miami home to criticize Zamir in a series of posts, suggesting that the IDF chief was attempting to lead a military rebellion against his father.
However, Zamir received support from the opposition and from Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, the only government minister to publicly support him. Opposition leader Yair Lapid insisted that such disagreements should remain “behind closed doors,” while Blue and White National Unity party leader Benny Gantz condemned the “uncontrolled attacks” by ministers against Zamir.
Current situation in the Gaza Strip
The IDF currently controls approximately 75% of the Gaza Strip, but under the new plan, the military would be expected to occupy the remaining territory, bringing the entire enclave under Israeli control.
It is unclear what such a move would mean for the millions of civilians in the Strip and for humanitarian organizations operating in the enclave.
The war began with the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack against Israel, which killed approximately 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostages. Since then, the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reports that more than 60,000 people in the Strip have been killed or are presumed dead in the fighting.
