The Israeli military’s top commander, who officials say has cast doubt on government plans to capture Gaza City, was facing increasing pressure on Wednesday, with one minister criticizing him over the promotion of top officers and another suggesting he could be sacked.
The commander, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, the military’s chief of staff, pushed back last week against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposal to control Gaza City, according to the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive issues. General Zamir was concerned about the exhaustion and fitness of reservists, about risking the lives of Israeli hostages and about potentially tasking troops with governing millions of Palestinians, the officials said. The government’s security cabinet nonetheless approved the plan.
Since then, tensions have intensified between General Zamir and the Israeli defense minister, Israel Katz, over the promotion of senior military officers, leading to a standoff between the two security leaders.
“After the events of October 7, there is no longer an army that is not under oversight,” Mr. Katz said in a harshly worded statement on Wednesday outlining his authority over the military’s chief of staff, although General Zamir was not specifically named.
The promotions dispute appears to stem from General Zamir’s selection of more than 20 officers without first consulting Mr. Katz, according to the Israeli news media. A military statement on Monday announced the promotions, noting that they were subject to Mr. Katz’s approval.
But Mr. Katz apparently viewed the selections as an “attempt now to change the procedures,” he said on Wednesday, suggesting that the announcement had “resulted in harm” to the military officers.
He also alluded to reports that General Zamir was consulting with former officials and other outside advisers opposed to Mr. Netanyahu’s government who Mr. Katz said were intent on “stirring the pot.”
“And to all the former critics and moral preachers — a little humility wouldn’t hurt,” Mr. Katz added.
The hard-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, also took aim at General Zamir on Wednesday.
If he continues to listen to the outside advisers, General Zamir “needs to be fired,” Mr. Ben-Gvir said in a statement.
The Israeli military did not immediately respond to requests for a response to the criticism of General Zamir.
But a military statement said that General Zamir had met with commanders on Wednesday morning during which “he approved the main framework” for the operational plan in the Gaza Strip. Those details were not clear from the statement.
General Zamir had earlier defended his fostering of a “culture of debate” inside the military as “a vital component of the I.D.F.’s overall culture — both internally and externally,” referring to the Israel Defense Forces.
“We will continue to express our position without fear,” he noted in a statement last week. “That is the expectation we have of our commanders, as well. The responsibility lies here, at this very table.”
Lia Lapidot contributed reporting from Jerusalem.
Lara Jakes, a Times reporter based in Rome, reports on conflict and diplomacy, with a focus on weapons and the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. She has been a journalist for more than 30 years.
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