Israel’s military push into Gaza City is not only causing deep divisions among its citizens but also highlighting an extraordinary discord between the nation’s military leadership and its elected government during a critical period.
Recently, senior military and security officials have found themselves at odds with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on three pivotal policy matters: his decision to launch an offensive into Gaza City, the urban heart of the enclave; his directive to target high-ranking Hamas officials in Qatar; and his overall approach to ceasefire negotiations aimed at ending the conflict.
Netanyahu’s unyielding stance on these issues has not only amplified his international isolation but has also fueled domestic questions about the direction he is steering Israel. His actions have strained crucial diplomatic ties with Arab nations, even as international leaders hoped to see these expand. Furthermore, they have drawn condemnation and sanctions from some of Israel’s long-standing allies.
“We are witnessing a truly unique and unprecedented era where critical national security decisions are predominantly concentrated in the hands of a single individual,” noted Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute, a respected nonpartisan think tank in Jerusalem.
Mr. Plesner, a former centrist lawmaker, elaborated, “The established practice was for major decisions to emerge from a consensus between the top political and military-security echelons. This norm has been broken, forcing the chief of staff to lead soldiers into a battle he may not fully endorse.”
In recent weeks, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, the military chief of staff, expressed strong reservations regarding the government’s decision to capture Gaza City—an area Israeli leaders identify as a key Hamas stronghold. Despite his objections, Israel launched a ground invasion into the city this week, even as hundreds of thousands of Palestinians remained within its borders.
Security officials, speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the discussions, revealed that General Zamir was concerned about the mounting fatigue among reserve soldiers following nearly two years of conflict in Gaza. He also cautioned that the military might be left solely responsible for managing the Gaza Strip’s two million Palestinian residents.
Furthermore, there are serious worries that the assault on Gaza City could jeopardize the lives of the remaining hostages held there.
Just months prior, Mr. Netanyahu had appointed General Zamir, praising his “aggressive approach” with great enthusiasm.
However, the Prime Minister has since initiated perilous operations in both Gaza and Qatar, proceeding against the advice of some of his most senior military and security commanders.
According to three sources familiar with the private internal discussions, General Zamir and David Barnea, the chief of Israel’s Mossad spy agency, opposed the timing of the strike in Qatar. They argued that Qatar, a key mediator in Gaza ceasefire negotiations and a close U.S. ally, should be given more time for diplomatic efforts to run their course.
Recently, Mr. Netanyahu also altered his approach to truce negotiations. Initially, he advocated for a gradual, phased resolution, beginning with a temporary truce and the release of some hostages. However, he has now shifted to demanding a comprehensive agreement for the immediate release of all remaining hostages and an end to the war on Israel’s terms. Such a sweeping deal is far more challenging to achieve, and Hamas has consistently rejected these conditions so far.
This abrupt change in strategy was also opposed by General Zamir and Mr. Barnea, along with Tzachi Hanegbi, Mr. Netanyahu’s national security adviser. Anonymous officials involved in the sensitive deliberations stated that these three leaders had favored reverting to the earlier phased deal, which Hamas had largely accepted.
Under Israel’s democratic legal framework, military and security chiefs are legally bound to comply with government decisions or, alternatively, resign. General Zamir has, for now, chosen to remain in his position.
In a televised address on Tuesday, General Zamir affirmed that the Gaza City offensive aimed for a decisive defeat of Hamas. Simultaneously, he underscored that securing the release of the hostages remains a key war objective and a “national and moral obligation.”
Idit Shafran Gittleman, a military-civil relations expert at the Tel Aviv-based Institute for National Security Studies, highlighted that General Zamir’s concerns about the Gaza City operation were evident. While disagreements between politicians and generals are common, she noted that this instance seemed to represent less a tactical or strategic divergence and more a moral conflict between those prioritizing Hamas’s defeat and those advocating for the hostages’ immediate release.
With thousands of soldiers deployed into combat, she added, “It’s difficult to overstate the gravity of the situation.”
Many Israelis are skeptical that the government’s stated goal of eradicating Hamas is achievable, questioning what this operation in Gaza City can accomplish after nearly two years of unsuccessful fighting.
Public opinion polls suggest that a majority of Israelis would prefer a negotiated settlement that would secure the release of the remaining hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a definitive end to the war.
Critics of Mr. Netanyahu contend that he has deliberately prolonged the war to maintain his grip on power, appeasing the far-right factions within his governing coalition. Extending the conflict has also served to delay a public reckoning over the government and intelligence failures that preceded the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which ignited the war.
The Gaza City operation is expected to exacerbate an already dire humanitarian crisis in the coastal territory. Health officials in the enclave report that approximately 65,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war, without distinguishing between combatants and civilians. Israeli authorities state that about 1,200 people were killed in Israel during the Hamas-led attack in October 2023, with around 250 more taken hostage.
Dozens of captives were released during two brief ceasefires. Israel currently believes that roughly 20 hostages are still alive in Gaza, alongside the remains of up to 28 others.
As of Tuesday evening, over 350,000 people had fled Gaza City, according to the Israeli military, but an estimated half a million are believed to remain in the city under intense bombardment.
Mr. Plesner and other experts highlight that Mr. Netanyahu’s far-right government operates without the traditional constraints that have guided Israeli decision-making for decades, particularly the principle of consensus.
Historically, the defense minister was typically a politically influential figure who exercised personal judgment and possessed effective veto power over controversial military operations.
The current defense minister, Israel Katz, was appointed by Mr. Netanyahu last year after his predecessor, Yoav Gallant, was dismissed due to disagreements. Mr. Katz is widely seen as a staunch Netanyahu loyalist and has repeatedly vowed to unleash “hell” on Hamas if the Palestinian militant group fails to release the hostages and surrender.
Mr. Netanyahu faces minimal opposition from his coalition partners, who generally hold more hard-line views than he does, or from within his own party. Moreover, with robust support from the Trump administration, other international actors appear to have little influence over his decisions.
Mr. Netanyahu has been accused by the International Criminal Court in The Hague of war crimes, including intentionally starving Gaza, and of overseeing a genocide. The Israeli government vigorously denies these accusations, which seem only to have pushed Mr. Netanyahu to become more isolated and defiant.