IDF Chief Zamir urges PM Netanyahu to 'exhaust all efforts' for hostage deal

In a security consultation held before the beginning of the operation to capture Gaza City, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir sharply told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "Exhaust the efforts for a deal. I don’t understand why the Mossad chief and Minister Dermer are here. Go bring a deal."

This was reported on Monday evening on Kan News. Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, who leads Israel's negotiation team, reportedly responded, "You don’t understand diplomacy."

Zamir told Netanyahu and the political echelon, "The risk to the hostages will increase during the operation. We will try to minimize it. A new deal must be pursued."

Netanyahu replied, "Most assessments show that the ground operation in Gaza will increase pressure on Hamas and bring about a resolution to the campaign."

"The risk to the hostages will increase during the operation," Zamir reiterated.

This is not the first time senior security officials have expressed concern that occupying Gaza City would endanger the hostages.

Last Friday, it was reported that top security officials had warned the political leadership that Operation Gideon Chariots II would "inevitably lead to the deaths of hostages and the control over hundreds of thousands of civilians."

In a discussion held ahead of the operation’s approval, all senior defense officials said that the action would last far longer than the political echelon anticipated – potentially several months – during which hostages could die and the operation's objectives might not be achieved.

Written by KAN 11 correspondents Roi Sharon and Michael Shemesh.