Tensions surfacing between Defense Minister and the Chief of Staff revealed as the latter gets barred from a meeting.
In the heart of ongoing operations in Gaza, a significant dispute has arisen between Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir. The disagreement centres around unauthorized military appointments and differing views on military strategy.
According to Channel 12 News, a scheduled meeting between Katz and Zamir, initially set for last Thursday, was cancelled by Zamir's office. The meeting was intended for Katz to review the proposed military appointments. However, on Friday, Zamir's aide requested a 15-minute meeting from Katz's office, but the request was rejected, as it was deemed insufficient for a thorough discussion of the matter.
The root of the dispute lies in Katz's view that Zamir has made military appointments without prior coordination or agreement, which he considers a violation of established procedure. In contrast, Zamir asserts that he holds the authority to appoint officers from the rank of colonel upwards, with appointments then subject to ministerial approval.
The strategic disagreement also extends to the approach in Gaza. Zamir has expressed opposition to the security cabinet's plan to take full control of densely populated Gaza City, favouring instead an encirclement strategy rather than a direct conquest. Katz and the government, however, have approved a plan for full takeover and occupation, named "Gideon's Chariots II."
This dispute reflects wider tensions between the military leadership and the government within the ongoing Gaza operation. Zamir, who was appointed in March 2025, after the dismissal of his predecessor, has asserted his intent to express military views “without fear, in a pragmatic, independent, and professional manner.” Katz, on the other hand, has emphasized that the military must execute government decisions.
The sharp disagreement between the two leaders escalated to the point of a scheduled meeting being cancelled. The Defense Minister's office claimed that Zamir had been informed in advance that Katz would be unavailable, yet chose to arrive regardless. It is not mentioned whether Zamir visited Katz's office on Monday, as was the case in an earlier event.
The IDF's concerns over the Gaza City operation were not mentioned in the given paragraph. Prime Minister Netanyahu's goal in the Gaza operation is to defeat Hamas, not perpetuate it.
The Defense Minister's office was informed about the military appointments through the media after the IDF began leaking names to reporters on Monday night. The details of the ongoing dispute and its implications for the Gaza operation remain to be seen.
- This ongoing dispute between Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, centered on military appointments and strategy, is receiving significant attention in the realm of war-and-conflicts and general-news, as well as in the discussions of policy-and-legislation and politics.
- The staunch difference of opinion between Katz and Zamir, with Zamir advocating for an encirclement strategy in Gaza City opposed to Katz's plan for full takeover and occupation, is not only a matter of military strategy but also has broader implications for the politics and policy of the Gaza operation.
