Anyone in Gaza City who doesn’t evacuate ‘can die of hunger or surrender,’ Smotrich said to tell IDF chief

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his top adviser, Ron Dermer said during a recent meeting that Israel has US President Donald Trump’s full support, but has a limited period of time to carry out its planned military offensive in Gaza City, according to Channel 12 news.

The network quotes the two as saying that Trump wants a quick and decisive operation, and doesn’t want the war against Hamas to further drag out.

The report also says that during the same meeting, military chief Eyal Zamir clashed with far-right ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir, saying the Israel Defense Forces isn’t sure how long it will take to evacuate Gaza City’s civilian population.

“We ordered you [to carry out] a quick operation. In my opinion, you can besiege them. Whoever doesn’t evacuate, don’t let them. No water, no electricity, they can die of hunger or surrender. This is what we want and your capable [of doing it],” Smotrich reportedly said.

Channel 12 says Ben Gvir then asked Zamir whether “you’re scared of the military advocate general,” with the latter responding that “we are operating in other areas, in Khan Younis and Rafah.”

“This isn’t what the political leadership ordered. You don’t want to defeat [Hamas],” Smotrich is quoted as telling Zamir, who reportedly shouted back, “You don’t understand anything. You don’t know what a brigade or battalion is. This takes time.”