Israeli army chief clashes with cabinet for acting "two years too late" on Hamas

The head of the Israeli military reportedly clashed with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior ministers during a heated cabinet meeting on the night of August 31, criticising the government for only now moving to prioritise the defeat of Hamas as justification to expand the military campaign and avoid a potential hostage deal.

According to Channel 13 news, Israel Defence Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir expressed frustration with the government’s stance, highlighting widening tensions between the army and political leadership over whether to continue the offensive in Gaza City or pursue a ceasefire that could secure the release of dozens of hostages, Caliber.Az reports via Israeli media. 

The IDF was scheduled on September 2 to begin gradually calling up 60,000 reservists to support the Gaza operation, despite concerns over manpower shortages and fatigue among soldiers after nearly two years of conflict since October 7, 2023.

“Good morning, sunshine,” Zamir reportedly told the cabinet with sarcasm during the August 31 meeting. “You [were] the cabinet on October 7. Now you remember to talk about defeating Hamas? Where were you on the 7th? The 8th? The 9th? Now you remember, after two years?”

His remarks were said to follow a request by Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs for ministers to explain their current insistence on Hamas’s defeat.

Media reports described the session as stormy, with Zamir pressing ministers to consider a deal under discussion and warning that a deepened offensive risked trapping Israel in a prolonged military occupation of Gaza.

“When I moved into this position, Gaza was not defeated,” Zamir said, according to Channel 13. “Today, 70 percent of Gaza is defeated.”

According to Ynet, Zamir also cautioned ministers: “You are heading to a military government. Your plan is leading us there. Understand the implications.”

Reports from different outlets varied on some exchanges. Channel 12 attributed to Zamir the statement: “There is a framework on the table, [and] we must take it.” Channel 13, however, reported that the comment was made by Mossad chief David Barnea, who has been leading indirect negotiations with Hamas over a ceasefire and hostage release.

Netanyahu reportedly rejected any discussion of a hostage deal during the meeting, with several outlets saying he insisted the matter was not under consideration. According to those reports, the prime minister said US President Donald Trump had urged him not to accept a partial agreement.

By Sabina Mammadli