Israel's Head of Military Pushes Back on Expanding Gaza War

He reportedly warned PM Netanyahu that the move could trap the military in enclave

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JERUSALEM/CAIRO - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced pushback from the head of the military over his proposal to seize remaining areas of Gaza it does not already control during a tense three-hour meeting, three Israeli officials said.

Lieutenant-General Eyal Zamir, the military chief of staff, warned the Prime Minister that taking the rest of Gaza could trap the military in the territory, which it withdrew from two decades ago, and could lead to harm to the hostages being held there, the sources briefed on the Aug 5 meeting said.

The Israeli military says it already controls 75 per cent of Gaza after nearly two years of war, which began when militant group Hamas attacked southern Israeli communities in October 2023.

Much of the crowded, coastal enclave has been devastated in the war, which has destroyed homes, schools, mosques and hospitals.

Most of the population have been displaced multiple times, and aid groups say residents are on the verge of famine.

The UN has called reports about a possible expansion of Israel's military operations in Gaza "deeply alarming" if true.

The military, which accuses Hamas of operating among civilians, has at times avoided areas where intelligence suggested hostages were held, and former captives have said their captors threatened to kill them if Israeli forces approached.