IDF Chief Zamir says military will prepare for Gaza takeover plan 'at the highest level’, as international opposition mounts

Following the Israel security cabinet’s vote to approve the proposal of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to conquer the Gaza Strip, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir on Friday vowed to carry out the cabinet’s plan. 

Overnight Thursday-Friday, the security cabinet voted to approve the plan, which includes military maneuvers in Gaza City, where the last of the hostages are believed to be held. Zamir had reportedly warned the cabinet that such operations would endanger the hostages. 

Shortly after the cabinet approval of the plan, right-wing Finance Minister and Religious Zionism Chairman Bezalel Smotrich announced that he had “lost faith” in Netanyahu and his willingness to lead the military to victory in Gaza. 

During a meeting with top generals and division heads at the Southern Command on Friday morning, Zamir said the military will “prepare at highest level” to implement the government’s plan. 

“We are doing our mission,” Zamir said in the meeting, “and I will tell you one thing – we are fighting for the citizens of the State of Israel, for the residents of the Gaza envelope. The residents of Ofakim, Nir Oz, Nahal Oz, Hulit, Sderot and the rest of the communities surrounding the Gaza Strip and the south are safer thanks to you.” 

“We will continue to lead out of the national responsibility imposed on the IDF and its commanders,” Zamir continued. “We are responsible for the army's competence, for the security of the state and its citizens, for the return of the abductees and for the defeat of Hamas, and we will do so.” 

“We are dealing with the new plan, we will deepen the planning, we will prepare at the highest level for all the meanings. And as always, we will carry out the mission in the best possible way,” he concluded. 

Meanwhile, Ynet News cited “sources close to Hamas” who said that intensive talks are being held with Israel, mediated by the United States, Egypt and Qatar, in an attempt to prevent the Israeli takeover of the Gaza Strip. 

The sources claimed that a proposal being discussed included an end to the fighting, a full Israeli withdrawal, the release of all the hostages, the disarming of the Palestinian terror groups, the exile of senior members of Hamas' military wing, and the establishment of a civilian leadership to run the Strip. 

The sources said that Hamas is expressing flexibility in the negotiations, but also prepares for a renewal of fighting if the proposal is rejected. 

This report was echoed by Saudi news channel Asharq, which also reported diplomatic efforts to negotiate an agreement between Israel and Hamas before Israel begins to implement the Gaza Strip takeover. 

Axios reported that special Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff met with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani to discuss a plan to end the war in Gaza and release all remaining hostages. 

The meeting followed not only the Israeli security cabinet’s decision, but also statements by Witkoff that the Trump administration is looking for a comprehensive "all or nothing" agreement, rather than a “piecemeal deal.” 

Axios cited an “Israeli official involved in the negotiations” as saying that “The gap between Israel and Hamas regarding ending the war is huge, so talking of a comprehensive deal is likely to be pointless at this stage.” 

That reports came after several Muslim countries condemned the security cabinet’s decision to complete a military takeover the Gaza Strip. 

Around 20 Muslim countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, said the plan constitutes “a flagrant violation of international law,” and accused Israel of “an attempt to entrench the illegal occupation and impose a fait accompli... in contravention of international legitimacy.” 

On Saturday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the Muslim nations should unite in opposition to the Israeli government plan. 

Reports on Saturday said the UN Security Council would hold an emergency session on Sunday to discuss the situation in Gaza, after several Western countries and the European Union also expressed opposition to Netanyahu’s Gaza takeover proposal. 

The London-based Arabic newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat reported Sunday that Hamas has conveyed a message to mediators that it is willing to continue negotiations from the point where they left off due to the security cabinet decision. 

On Saturday, the IDF announced that 106 humanitarian aid packages had been airdropped into Gaza by six different countries, including Greece and Italy, who participated for the first time. 

On Sunday afternoon, two rockets were fired from the northern Gaza Strip and were intercepted by air defense systems.