Israeli military chiefs fell out in an explosive shouting match over the sheer number of Palestinians killed by IDF airstrikes, according to local media.
Major General Yaniv Asor, head of the army’s southern command, is said to have complained to the air force that it was consistently overruling bombing requests for targets in Gaza, which has already been decimated since Israel began its siege of the enclave.
In response, Major General Tomer Bar, the head of Israel’s air force, said that many of requests made by Asor’s subordinates were killing civilians and showed a ‘lack of professionalism.’
Local media reported that the argument only spiralled from there, resulting in the senior military figures screaming at each other in front of top officers.
The spat required Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, chief of staff at the IDF to intervene, witnesses said.
The argument reflects a deep division within Benjamin Netanyahu‘s government over what the future, vis-a-vis Gaza, ought to look like.
Earlier this week, Netanyahu told the military to prepare for a full takeover of the Gaza Strip, including areas where hostages are being held.
A source in the Prime Minister’s Office told The Jerusalem Post on Monday that the message had been passed on to IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir saying: ‘If this does not suit you, then you should resign.’
It comes as Netanyahu prepares to meet with top officials to decide on the next steps in Gaza and what to do about the remaining hostages.
An Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post: ‘The prime minister is considering all available options regarding the next steps.’
Hamas, however, has brushed off talks of an Israeli takeover.
The group said: ‘Israel’s threats are repetitive, worthless, and have no influence on our decisions.’
But a political analyst with Channel 12 quoted an unnamed official saying: ‘Hamas won’t release more hostages without total surrender, and we won’t surrender.
‘If we don’t act now, the hostages will starve to death and Gaza will remain under Hamas’s control.‘
According to reports, the prime minister used the phrase ‘occupation of the Strip’ in private conversations while describing his intentions for Gaza.
If Netanyahu’s plans are successful, the Israeli military could extend its reach across the whole region, according to local reports. It currently holds 75 percent of the Strip.
He is now set to take the plans to his cabinet to seek their backing for the plan. In a video message, Netanyahu said he was ‘committing to free Gaza from the tyranny of these terrorists’.
According to The Times of Israel, the IDF is against the proposal and has said it would take a significant amount of time to clear infrastructure belonging to Hamas.
