• Netanyahu’s Gaza reoccupation plan faces public opposition from military leaders and opposition figures
• Army chief warns Gaza reoccupation would be ‘mistake’ that could endanger hostages, drag military into prolonged conflict
• Opposition leader calls for nationwide protests, economic shutdown in response to Netanyahu’s Gaza plan

ISTANBUL

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s push to fully reoccupy the Gaza Strip is putting the country’s political and military leadership on a collision course.

Israeli media, citing Israeli officials, said that Netanyahu has won US backing for the full reoccupation of Gaza and launching military operations in areas believed to hold captives.

The plan, however, is opposed by Army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, who warned that the reoccupation of Gaza would be a “mistake” that could endanger hostages and drag the military into a prolonged, costly conflict.

The disagreement has exposed deep fractures among key figures in the Israeli leadership, with Netanyahu’s son Yair accusing the army chief of plotting a “mutiny.”

During a closed-door meeting on Tuesday, Zamir called Netanyahu’s plan for Gaza reoccupation a “trap” that would deplete Israel’s army forces for years and possibly harm the hostages.

He instead proposed sealing off Gaza and imposing a tighter blockade on several areas in the enclave, combined with intensified airstrikes against Hamas targets.

The goal, he said, would be to apply pressure on Hamas to release the hostages - without committing to a ground reoccupation that could entangle the army in a long-term quagmire.

Despite the pushback, Netanyahu rejected the alternative plan and insisted on fully reoccupying the Palestinian enclave.

According to media sources, Zamir hinted at the possibility of resignation, reportedly stating, “I have only one bullet left in my mouth”. 

Growing tension

Defense Minister Israel Katz publicly backed Zamir’s right to voice concerns over the reoccupation plan, saying it was not only his “right” but his “duty.”

His statement followed a social media post by Yair Netanyahu accusing Zamir of plotting “a mutiny and a military coup.”

The divisions extend beyond the top brass into the Israeli military itself. According to the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, a heated argument erupted between Air Force Chief Tomer Bar and Southern Command Chief Yaniv Asor during a security assessment meeting last week.

While Asor called for intensified strikes across Gaza, Bar accused the Southern Command chief of requesting “unprofessional” air operations and confirmed that some of the proposed attacks had been blocked.

The confrontation escalated until Asor lost his temper, reportedly accusing Tel Aviv-based commanders of being “detached from reality on the ground.” Army chief Zamir intervened and asked Asor to moderate his tone.

The Israeli army confirmed the incident but declined further comment, Yedioth Ahronoth reported. Witnesses told the newspaper they had never seen such a clash within the General Staff.  

Calls for protests

Amid the widening rift, opposition leader Yair Golan, head of the Democrats Party, called for nationwide protests and an economic shutdown in response to Netanyahu’s Gaza reoccupation plan.

Speaking to local radio station FM-103 on Wednesday, Golan urged Israelis to take to the streets and paralyze the economy.

“This government wants to impose Gaza’s reoccupation on Israel,” he said, warning it would result in “heavy human and financial losses.”

“We, the Israeli people, must escalate the struggle,” Golan said. “We need to shut down the economy for an extended period until the government agrees to hold elections.”

He added, "I call for a wide-scale protest movement and a full economic shutdown.”

Israel had occupied Gaza for 38 years, from 1967 until its unilateral withdrawal from the territory in 2005.  

Public frustration

Netanyahu’s plan for reoccupying Gaza comes amid a deadlock in indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal.

On July 24, Israel withdrew from indirect negotiations with Hamas in Doha, Qatar, due to disagreements over troop withdrawal from Gaza, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and humanitarian aid mechanisms.

Tel Aviv estimates that 50 Israelis remain captive in Gaza, including 20 believed to be alive. Meanwhile, Israel is holding more than 10,800 Palestinian detainees, many of whom face torture, starvation and medical neglect, according to Palestinian and Israeli rights groups.

According to a public opinion poll released Sunday by the Israeli Institute for National Security Studies, 52% of Israelis hold the government fully or partially responsible for the failure to reach a deal with Hamas.

Hamas has repeatedly stated its readiness to release all Israeli hostages in a single exchange - on the condition that Israel ends the war, withdraws from Gaza, and releases Palestinian detainees.

Opposition leaders and hostage families accuse Netanyahu of intentionally delaying a comprehensive deal in favor of partial agreements that allow the war to continue and serve to keep his fragile coalition intact.

Israel has been facing mounting outrage over its destructive war on Gaza, where more than 61,100 people have been killed since October 2023. The military campaign has devastated the enclave and brought it to the verge of famine.

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.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.