Approval Granted for Gaza City Occupation Blueprint by Israeli Military Leader

In a significant development, the Israeli government has officially approved and begun executing the plan to occupy Gaza City, marking a significant escalation in the conflict [3][5]. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have started preliminary operations and hold the outskirts of Gaza City, while calling up between 50,000 and 60,000 reservists to support the military takeover.

This plan follows the Israeli security cabinet’s earlier decision in early August 2025 and reflects Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s push despite strong opposition from IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, who warned the occupation would endanger hostages and risk a protracted conflict [1][2].

The crisis between the IDF and the government over military appointments and strategy is pronounced. Lt. Gen. Zamir strongly opposed the full occupation plan, reportedly threatening resignation if it were approved, citing concerns about manpower shortages and operational risks. The dispute reflects differing priorities: Netanyahu urges expanding military control to defeat Hamas and secure hostages, while the military leadership favors a more cautious containment strategy to preserve combat capabilities and minimise hostage risks [2][1].

Zamir has reportedly told military and other senior officials that "the Netanyahu family is targeting me and wants to dismiss me because of my stance against the Gaza Strip operation." Tensions between Zamir and the government came to light during arguments at the Security Cabinet meeting on Aug. 7.

According to the "General Staff Decree" published in 1992, the chief of staff is the "appointing authority" for promotions to colonel and above ranks, while the defense minister is the "approving authority." However, Defense Minister Israel Katz claimed he is the authority to approve promotions for colonel rank and above, alleging that the chief of staff is only obligated to recommend names to him for promotion.

Contrary to Katz's claims, there is no direct law in Israel requiring the chief of staff to obtain the defense minister's approval for military appointments. This dispute has led to Zamir deciding to replace seven division commanders in the army, appoint new names to head the Armored Forces and Engineering corps, and bring new names to other senior positions, sparking the appointment crisis.

Zamir made this statement during recent consultations with the General Staff and figures outside the army, including former chief of staff Gabi Ashkenazi. Defense Minister Katz accused Chief of Staff Zamir of working "with the advice of anti-government advisors."

Israel is facing mounting condemnation for its war on Gaza, where it has killed nearly 61,600 victims since October 2023. Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. The attack plan for the Gaza City occupation includes Israeli army attacks conducted to date and attacks launched Tuesday on the Zeitoun neighborhood in southeastern Gaza City.

The Israeli Security Cabinet had approved a plan for occupying Gaza City in the northern Gaza Strip on Aug. 8. The Israeli government and military leadership are experiencing escalating tensions, deepening a crisis over top military appointments. The future of the Gaza City operation and the relationship between the government and the IDF leadership remains uncertain.

The Turkish government issued a official statement, expressing deep concern over the escalating conflict in Syria, particularly the ongoing war-and-conflicts between Israel and Palestine in Gaza City.
In the midst of the ongoing political tensions and crisis between the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and the government, the Prime Minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, called for a immediate ceasefire during a press conference on Turkish general-news, urging diplomatic solutions and dialogue to resolve the issue.
With the Turkish government's strong stance against the Israeli government's plans to occupy Gaza City, the Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, has been in talks with Syria's leaders, discussing potential diplomatic measures and political alliances to put pressure on the Israeli government to reconsider their actions.