DaysofPal – Israeli army chief Eyal Zamir told lawmakers in the Knesset that he has not received clear instructions from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the future of Gaza, raising deep concerns about Israel’s military preparedness as it pushes forward with a major offensive on Gaza City.
Briefing the Knesset Intelligence Subcommittee on Friday, Zamir reportedly admitted, “The prime minister doesn’t tell us what’s coming next. We don’t know what we’re preparing for.
If they want a military government, they should say a military government,” according to Yedioth Ahronoth. The Intelligence Subcommittee, part of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, is considered one of the Knesset’s most secretive bodies.
Zamir also criticized the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which manages aid distribution through local centers. He called the program a “failure,” questioning the decision to expand its operations from four centers to twelve despite its poor performance.
Asked about a potential blockade following civilian evacuations, Zamir noted that humanitarian aid would have to continue entering Gaza “as long as civilians remain there, in accordance with international law.”
The army chief has repeatedly warned that the absence of a clear political decision risks dragging the military into governing vast swaths of Gaza. In a previous cabinet session, he cautioned that ongoing operations could ultimately force Israeli troops into the main refugee camps, effectively placing the territory under military rule, a scenario the army does not want.
In a closed security meeting on Sunday, Zamir informed the political leadership that, despite Israel’s occupation of Gaza City, Hamas cannot be completely vanquished politically or militarily, according to Israeli Channel 12. He added that seizing the city could take up to six months, with the process of “clearing” it likely to last even longer.
The same meeting, chaired by Netanyahu, also discussed the fate of Israeli prisoners held in Gaza and how Israel might respond if Hamas executes captives during the offensive. Despite repeated warnings about endangering their lives, the Israeli government has pressed ahead with demolishing entire neighborhoods in Gaza City as part of its expanding ground assault.
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