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Stopping Gaza War now ‘would be a shame’, IDF senior officer says amid discussions about broader agreement & Abraham Accords

IDF chief reportedly counsels to wrap up the war, says continuation could endanger hostages

 
Israeli forces in Gaza (Photo: IDF)

With discussions about a broader regional peace arrangement being advanced by U.S. President Donald Trump, opinions on how to the IDF should act in Gaza have been diverging between Israel’s political and military leadership, according to media reports.

Channel 13 reported that Defense Minister Katz told members of the General Staff Forum at a meeting on Monday evening that Israel is “now facing the completion of the campaign in Gaza – to achieve its goals – and foremost the release of all the hostages and the subjugation of Hamas.”

Discussions between politicians and military officials at two meetings on Sunday and Monday included some “harsh tones,” according to the report, as the Chief of Staff, Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir was said to have warned that continuing the military campaign now would endanger the remaining hostages.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who could travel to the White House as soon as next week to discuss the end of the Gaza War, among other pressing issues, reportedly presented a four-stage plan for the continuation of the fighting.

The question of whether to continue the fighting apparently divides both politicians and military brass. Netanyahu is reportedly under U.S. pressure to wrap up the Gaza War and continue toward a broad regional agreement.

However, in case Hamas continues to refuse a ceasefire, he could approve the renewed intensification of IDF operations. While Zamir is reported to counsel stopping the fighting, a senior officer in Southern Command told Ynet News: “It would be a shame to stop now.”

According to Walla News, the army is preparing for the possible collapse of the latest negotiations with Hamas, including new large-scale maneuvers and intense airstrikes. However, some IDF officials reportedly claim that the army is starting to exhaust its military moves, counseling the political echelon to come up with a new strategy to force Hamas to release the hostages.

Others in the IDF’s top brass are reportedly concerned that a new large-scale operation would inevitably, finally lead to the necessity of an Israeli military government in Gaza, which many generals have long opposed.

On the political side, far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich were furious with the concerns presented by the military in the Monday meeting, according to Channel 13.

They were said to argue that they, too, want to return the hostages but were not ready to endanger the country by leaving a Hamas presence in Gaza.

Earlier Monday, Smotrich said in a press conference that he wouldn’t allow Netanyahu to agree to end the war in Gaza.

“I can tell you with all my heart that it won’t happen. I’m talking to him about it, and I don’t get the impression that he’s on his way there,” Smotrich said.

“If anyone thinks about going there, they’ll meet a wall that won’t let them do it.”

Meanwhile, the Hostages’ Families Forum harshly criticized the IDF officer’s comment that wrapping up the Gaza War would be “a shame.”

“We would appreciate it if the spokesperson would explain to the hostages' families what exactly his military plan includes, how it avoids sinking into the Gaza quagmire, how it contributes to rescuing all hostages, and how it aligns with the Chief of Staff’s stated position,” the forum wrote on 𝕏.

The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.

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