Israeli military chief opposes Netanyahu’s plan to occupy Gaza

The Israel Defense Forces’ top commander is pushing back against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan for full military control of the Gaza Strip.

During a tense, three-hour meeting Tuesday night, IDF chief of staff Eyal Zamir warned the premier that occupying Gaza would only threaten the lives of the remaining hostages and his soldiers, three Israeli officials briefed on the meeting told Reuters.

Despite pushback from current and former Israeli security officials, Netanyahu has maintained that military pressure is the only way to free the remaining 50 hostages in Gaza and finish Hamas off for good.