IDF chief reportedly yells at cabinet ministers: Go secure a hostage release deal!

In the meeting last night on the future of the campaign in Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opened the meeting by confronting military chiefs over leaks to the media, saying that IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen Eyal Zamir opposes the operation in Gaza City, Channel 12 reports.

“What is this?” Netanyahu said as he waved around articles on Zamir’s opposition to the operation, per the report. “Stop giving briefings against the operation. This cannot continue! We made the decision — and you need carry it out. This isn’t an army that has a state; it’s a state that has an army.”

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir then challenged Zamir: “What is your reaction to these accusations?”

Zamir said he was unaware of any briefings given to journalists.

Meanwhile, according to a report in Channel 13, Zamir fired back at the members of the cabinet.

“I am preparing the army for ground maneuvers and am calling up reservists to defeat Hamas according to your instructions,” said Zamir. “Why isn’t the negotiating team traveling around the world now, in order to bring about a deal by force,” he continued. “Why do we always have to depend on [the US]?”

“Why is Dadi sitting here,” he asked, using Mossad chief David Barnea’s nickname. “Why are you in Israel? Go bring us a deal by force!”

Per Channel 13, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer responded by reminding Zamir that, before the attacks on Iran, “You stood here and said that the US won’t be with us in Iran, that they won’t fight alongside us. In the end, everything that happened contradicted what you said and your assessments.”

“There is a deal on the table now, and it is there only because we didn’t listen to you and we didn’t adopt your position,” Dermer reportedly adds.

“So take the deal!” Zamir yelled back.