Israel’s military chief has cautioned against a full-scale takeover of Gaza, warning that such an operation could entangle the Israel Defense Forces in a prolonged and costly campaign, according to three Israeli sources familiar with high-level security discussions.
During a closed-door meeting with top Israeli officials on Tuesday evening, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir expressed serious concerns over the consequences of completely capturing the Gaza Strip.
Zamir argued that such a move could jeopardize the safety of the remaining hostages, trap Israeli forces in prolonged urban warfare, and further strain an already exhausted reservist system, sources said.
Two of the sources revealed that Zamir instead recommended a more targeted strategy, encircling Gaza City and other suspected hostage-holding areas.
This approach stands in contrast to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s push for a sweeping offensive into Gaza’s core, which he is expected to present to the security cabinet on Thursday.
If approved, it would mark a significant escalation of Israel’s military campaign.
This divergence in strategy highlights the deepening rift between Israel’s political leadership and its military command. While the military has reportedly suggested pursuing a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, Netanyahu and his far-right allies continue to press for total military victory over Hamas, despite the two-year war’s devastating toll and limited success in dismantling the militant group.
The Israeli army claims it currently controls about 75% of Gaza, but a complete military occupation, Zamir warned, could drag Israel back into a costly quagmire reminiscent of its pre-2005 presence in the enclave.
Zamir’s opposition has drawn backlash from hardline members of Netanyahu’s coalition.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir took to social media to demand that the IDF chief publicly affirm his willingness to follow political directives, regardless of his personal reservations.
Following the meeting, the Prime Minister’s Office released a statement asserting that “the IDF is prepared to implement any decision made by the Security Cabinet.”
On Wednesday, Netanyahu also met with opposition leader Yair Lapid, who publicly condemned the idea of a full conquest of Gaza.
In a video statement, Lapid called the proposal “a very bad idea,” adding, “You don’t take such a step unless the majority of the nation is behind you. The Israeli public does not support this war, we will end up paying too high a price.”
Public opinion appears to back Lapid’s stance, with recent polls showing most Israelis favour ending the war in exchange for the release of approximately 50 remaining hostages.
Meanwhile, Gaza’s health ministry reported its highest single-day death toll in weeks, with 138 people killed in the past 24 hours.
The ministry also said five people died from hunger, bringing the death toll from starvation and malnutrition to 193, including 96 children.
According to UN data as of July 28, only 1.5% of Gaza’s farmland remains accessible and undamaged, underscoring the depth of the food crisis facing the territory’s population.
COGAT, the Israeli agency coordinating humanitarian access to Gaza, reported that nearly 300 aid trucks entered the enclave on Tuesday and were distributed by UN and international agencies.
Additionally, 110 pallets of aid were airdropped through a multinational effort involving the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Germany, Canada, and Belgium.
However, the Hamas-run Government Media Office disputed these figures, claiming that only 84 trucks made it into Gaza on Tuesday.
It reiterated that the territory requires at least 600 trucks carrying relief and fuel daily to meet the population’s basic needs.