The rift between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and military chief Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir is deepening as the government weighs expanding its military campaign in the Gaza Strip and a potential push to seize Gaza City.
Netanyahu is expected to present his new Gaza plans to the security cabinet on Thursday. Meanwhile, Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee issued a warning on Wednesday to residents of Gaza City’s Zaitoun neighborhood to evacuate south to the al-Mawasi area, saying the military is intensifying operations in northern Gaza and advancing westward.
The Israeli military currently controls close to 75% of the Strip’s territory, mainly in the north and in the south. Most of the soldiers present in the area are located in fixed military positions or securing routes and are not currently fighting Hamas. The militant group still has a strong presence in the center and west of Gaza City and in the Dir al-Balah and Nouseirat camps in the center of the Strip.
Over the past week, Netanyahu has repeatedly signaled his intention to broaden the military offensive. On Tuesday morning, he declared it necessary to "complete the defeat of the enemy in Gaza, to free all our hostages and to ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel."
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