IDF chief confronts Netanyahu cabinet over hostage talks “Go and make a deal!”

Tensions between Israel’s political leadership and the military command over the ongoing Gaza operation have escalated sharply, culminating in a heated exchange at a high-level meeting yesterday, September 15.

According to Israeli media, Israel Defence Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Major General Eyal Zamir openly clashed with government ministers, accusing them of failing to advance negotiations for the release of hostages held by Hamas.

“I am preparing the army for manoeuvres and mobilising reservists to crush Hamas, as you ordered,” Zamir declared during the meeting. “Why isn’t the negotiating team travelling the world right now to secure a deal? Why are David Barnea, who has played a key role in the talks, and Minister Ron Dermer sitting here? Why are you in the country? Go and make a deal!”

The meeting, which had been convened to discuss the safety of hostages, opened with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu levelling accusations against senior military officials. He charged them with leaking information from security meetings to the press. Netanyahu cited media reports quoting IDF officers critical of the decision to expand military operations in Gaza.

Although he did not name Zamir directly, Netanyahu warned: “Stop agitating against the operation! This is not an army that has a state, but a state that has an army.”

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has no military service record, demanded a direct response from Zamir: “What is your response to these accusations?” The chief of staff firmly denied any involvement in leaks, saying he had no knowledge of such actions.

Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer also pushed back at Zamir, recalling earlier disagreements over Iran policy. “You stood here and said that the United States would not act with us against Iran,” Dermer said. “In the end, everything turned out the opposite of your assessments.”

Dermer added that the current hostage deal under discussion existed only because the government had ignored Zamir’s advice at the time: “There is now a deal on the table, and it is only there because we did not listen to you and did not accept your position.”

Zamir responded bluntly: “Then accept this deal.”

The chief of staff stressed the urgency of advancing negotiations. “The danger to the hostages will increase during the Gaza manoeuvre,” he cautioned. “We will try to minimise the risk, but we must work to promote the new deal.”

Netanyahu, however, dismissed Zamir’s warning, maintaining that the planned ground operation would strengthen Israel’s position: “Most assessments show that the manoeuvre in Gaza will increase pressure on Hamas and lead to the end of the war.”

By Tamilla Hasanova