Netanyahu and Eyal Zamir Clash Over Gaza Humanitarian Zones Amid Prisoner Exchange Talks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been holding a series of security consultations and meetings with senior ministers and top military and intelligence officials throughout June and early July 2025. These sessions, including meetings of the smaller security cabinet and the war management council, have focused on the ongoing conflict in Gaza, efforts to recover hostages, and potential prisoner exchange deals. Tensions have escalated notably between Netanyahu and Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, particularly regarding the management of Gaza, the humanitarian zones, and the feasibility of controlling the population in the Gaza Strip. Zamir expressed concerns about the military's capacity to control the two million residents of Gaza. Reports indicate that Netanyahu is keen on advancing a prisoner exchange agreement amid these disputes. The security cabinet continues to deliberate on responses to Hamas and the next steps in the Gaza conflict, reflecting deep divisions within Israel's political and military leadership.