Media: Israel’s top general warns of troop shortages Questions Gaza war objectives

Israel’s top military commander has warned the government that a shortage of combat troops may limit the army’s capacity to achieve its objectives in Gaza, and stressed that military action alone cannot deliver strategic success.

Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, who recently took over as Chief of Staff, told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior ministers that the absence of a parallel diplomatic strategy undermines efforts to weaken Hamas, Caliber.Az reports per Ynet.

His comments reflect growing unease within the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) over the gap between operational realities and political ambitions.

The IDF is currently pursuing a scaled-down campaign known as “Mini Oranim”, focused on maintaining a buffer zone and pressuring Hamas through targeted operations. Zamir has also raised concerns about declining reservist participation, with combat unit turnout currently between 60% and 70%. A wider ground offensive would require reactivating tens of thousands of reservists, a move that may not be sustainable over time.

Military sources say Zamir supports more decisive tactics but warns against repeating earlier missteps, where gains were lost due to a lack of political follow-through. He also reiterated the importance of operational secrecy, as Hamas continues to operate across much of the Gaza Strip with an estimated 20,000 fighters.

The general has briefed the government on broader military preparedness, including potential threats from Iran and Hezbollah, as well as concerns over equipment readiness.

In a recent speech, Zamir conceded that Hamas remains intact—raising doubts about the long-term effectiveness of the military campaign, which initially enjoyed strong public and international backing.

The IDF declined to comment on internal discussions but confirmed that it is preparing for various scenarios, including the mobilisation of additional reservists for Gaza operations.

By Aghakazim Guliyev