But resistance grows in the Israeli army. Zamir made it clear that he would continue to express his assessments openly. A culture of disagreement is “an inseparable part of the history of the people of Israel” and “an integral part of the organizational culture of the Israeli forces,” said Zamir. “We will continue to represent our positions without fear, factual, independent, independent and professionally.”
According to reports, the relationship between Netanyahu and his general in the past few days was so tense that the prime minister suggested him to withdraw – a threat that Zamir rejected. The public attack by Netanyahus son Yair, who even accused the general of a “attempted military coup” and claimed that he was “through and through criminal”, also tightened the tensions. Supposedly Yair and the Prime Minister argued.
Defense Minister Israel Katz defended the IDF boss. According to “Times of Israel”, he said: “I recommended Eyal Zamir for the office, and the Prime Minister and the government have approved my recommendation.”
Officially, the goal is to smash the radical-Islamic Hamas and free the remaining 50 hostages. 20 of them should still be alive.
But critics accuse Netanyahu of strategically extending the war – also to keep his fragile right -back coalition together. The original warnings of the IDF leadership, a advance to Gaza City would bring the hostages into acute danger, were apparently ignored. Instead, military pressure, also as a negotiating tactic, is rely.
In fact, the advance seems to be calculated in terms of time: After the failure of months of indirect conversations with Hamas about a ceasefire, Israeli media speculate that the new military operation should force the Islamists to the negotiating table. According to the Israeli TV station N12, agents such as Egypt and Qatar are already in close contact with Hamas leaders.
However, what is still missing from Israeli leadership is a clear concept for the time after the military operation. How should Gaza be ruled without Hamas, but also without Israeli crew? Arab states reject Netanyahu’s idea of transitional management through “Arabic forces”. A Jordanian government representative said that only legitimate Palestinian institutions could take responsibility – not externally used administrators.
At the same time, the international community warns of a humanitarian disaster. UN Diplomat Miroslav Jenca spoke of possible “catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians”. According to satellite data, 70 percent of all buildings in the Gaza Strip have already been destroyed or badly damaged, and up to 90 percent in Chan Junis and Rafah.
