A rift has emerged between Israel’s Defense Ministry and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) over senior officer appointments, deepening political–military tensions just days before a planned new operation in Gaza.
Defense Minister Israel Katz publicly rebuked IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, accusing him of making appointment decisions without prior coordination or approval from the ministry. “The minister has no intention of discussing or approving these appointments,” the Defense Ministry said in a statement.
Responding through a military communiqué, Zamir asserted that the chief of staff alone is authorized to appoint officers from the rank of colonel upward, with the minister’s role being to approve such appointments after the fact. “The chief of staff makes the decisions on appointments,” the statement read.
The disagreement comes amid a two-week standoff between Zamir and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government over the future of military operations in Gaza. While the government recently approved a plan to take control of Gaza City — one of the most densely populated areas still outside Israeli military control — Zamir is reported by Israeli media to oppose the move.
Gaza, now largely devastated after 22 months of war, is estimated to be 75% under Israeli control. The stated aims of the continued operations are to defeat Hamas and free Israeli hostages still held in the enclave.
Appointed in March after his predecessor’s dismissal, Zamir has vowed to speak “without fear” and maintain a “professional” approach. Katz, however, has insisted the chief of staff must “carry out with determination” the government’s political decisions.
