Eyal Zamir urges Netanyahu to accept ceasefire

Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir has warned that Israel’s plan to occupy Gaza would endanger the lives of hostages, urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to sign the ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal proposed by Egypt and Qatar. Zamir’s call has received support from the families of Israeli hostages.

According to Channel 13, Zamir conveyed his message to Netanyahu during a visit to the naval base in Haifa, stressing that the deal on the table must be accepted. He argued that the Israeli military had already created the necessary conditions for such an agreement.

Zamir reportedly said, “There is a deal on the table. This is an updated draft of the proposal presented by Steve Witkoff (US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy). It should be accepted. The Israeli army has created the conditions for a prisoner exchange deal. Now it is in Netanyahu’s hands. During the occupation of Gaza City, hostages’ lives will be at great risk.”

Support from hostage families

The families of Israeli hostages echoed Zamir’s concerns, emphasizing that the occupation of Gaza would jeopardize the lives of their loved ones. In a joint statement, they urged Netanyahu to honor the public’s will: “It is time to realize the will of the people. You do not have the authority to wage endless war. You do not have the authority to sacrifice hostages, soldiers, and Israeli citizens.”

Israeli media reported that tensions flared in the Security Cabinet meeting, where the decision to invade Gaza City was made. Zamir and several ministers reportedly clashed verbally, as the chief of staff opposed the occupation over the risk to hostages’ lives.

Netanyahu pursues dual track of negotiations and invasion

On August 21, Netanyahu revealed that the Israeli army had presented him with a plan to occupy Gaza City. He said he had reviewed the plan at the Gaza Division headquarters in the south and was prepared to approve it. At the same time, Netanyahu claimed he had instructed the start of negotiations for the release of hostages and for ending the war under conditions favorable to Israel. “The defeat of Hamas and the release of all hostages go hand in hand,” he declared.

Netanyahu stated that Israel would simultaneously continue military operations in Gaza City while pursuing ceasefire and prisoner exchange talks. Defense Minister Yisrael Katz announced on August 22 that the invasion plan had been formally approved.

Israel’s plan to occupy Gaza

On August 8, the Israeli Security Cabinet approved a plan to occupy Gaza City in the north. Ahead of that meeting, Netanyahu told local media that Israel’s ultimate goal was to occupy the entire Gaza Strip.

Reports in Israeli outlets suggested that while the army had received orders to prepare for the full occupation of Gaza, this step would likely not be executed before September. The first stage of the plan reportedly involves forcing about one million Palestinians to move south, surrounding Gaza City, and launching heavy assaults before occupation. The second stage envisions the takeover of refugee camps in central Gaza, much of which has already been reduced to rubble.

Israel previously occupied Gaza from 1967 until its withdrawal in 2005. Today, around 2.3 million Palestinians live in the Gaza Strip, which has been under a crippling blockade for the past 18 years.