Netanyahu slams leaks of disagreements with military brass over course of war

Addressing reports of fierce disagreement between him and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir over how to conduct the war in Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that “false” leaks and “biased” briefings are hurting the war effort.

“I think it is absolutely unacceptable that leaks that are often false, and briefings that are almost always biased and agenda-driven, are being released,” he says during an economic press conference.

“These things make it harder to manage the war, they clearly delay the release of our hostages, and they endanger our soldiers — and they also lower their morale,” he continues, adding that “These are things that must not be done. That is why I do not comment on specific matters of this kind.”

He adds that from the start of the war, “which included the decision first of all to declare war and call up hundreds of thousands [of reservists,] through the most recent decisions, including Iran, including Qatar — at every one of these stages there were always people in the room…who opposed, hesitated, or raised reservations of one kind or another.”

“And that is perfectly fine. That is their role. They must state their opinion. But in the end, the one who decides is the cabinet,” he says.

Addressing reports that Zamir urged Netanyahu to take a hostage deal over pushing the ground offensive in Gaza City, Netanyahu says that, “Overall, our path of action led to the release of over 200 hostages so far, when the most senior military officials said at the start of the war that it was doubtful if we would see even one alive.”

“And I thought otherwise, and I acted otherwise — and even now we are acting to bring them back. We are doing it and we are not stopping,” He says.