Israel Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir has urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept the current ceasefire and prisoner swap, warning that the occupation of Gaza poses a serious risk to the lives of captives.
The call has come at a time when the Israeli government is facing mounting pressure from Ben Gvir and Smotrich to occupy the whole of Gaza, while families of hostages are calling for an immediate ceasefire.
Current events in Israel are expected to turn violent, as protesters argue the government has turned a blind eye to the lives of those held by Hamas.
Netanyahu, however, is also facing a difficult situation. On one side, he and his wife are facing serious allegations of corruption, while on the other, his two major allies representing right-wing and religious orthodox communities are demanding the complete annexation of Gaza.
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The Israeli armed forces are also caught in a dilemma regarding the proposal to capture the occupied strip. Commanders acknowledge that they are treading a thin line, where the margin for error is less than one per cent.
Any misjudgement could destroy all hope of peace between Hamas and Israel and, as some Israeli experts fear, could even trigger a civil war that may engulf the nation.
On Thursday, Netanyahu ordered fresh and immediate negotiations for the release of all prisoners, while at the same time continuing with plans to occupy Gaza and displace its population.
His comments suggest he may be seeking a deal under new conditions, while mediators await an official response from him to an Egyptian-Qatari proposal, which is largely consistent with prior Israeli agreements and has recently been accepted by Hamas.
“There is a deal on the table, and it should be taken now,” Zamir said, adding: “The army has provided the conditions for its completion, and the decision is now in Netanyahu’s hands.”
This marks the first time in more than 22 months that an Israeli Chief of Staff has made such remarks publicly. Analysts believe it is an attempt at narrative management to avoid accountability should captives be killed during Israeli military operations.
Since October 2023, Israel has killed nearly 62,700 Palestinians in Gaza. The campaign has devastated the enclave, which is now facing famine.
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