Rifts emerge over Gaza plan ahead of cabinet meeting

Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir vowed on Thursday to continue expressing the military's position "without fear" ahead of an expected security cabinet meeting where occupation plans for Gaza were expected to be discussed.

In the run-up to the meeting, rumors have been rife in the Israeli media about disagreements between the cabinet and Zamir over the way forward in the Palestinian territory.

"We will continue to express our position without fear, in a pragmatic, independent, and professional manner," Zamir said.

The Israeli security cabinet was due to discuss phased plans to conquer vast new areas of the Gaza Strip for full takeover during a meeting on Thursday night. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pushed for a full occupation of Gaza.

The Gaza takeover plan is said to last four to five months, and begin with the takeover of Gaza City and camps in the central strip, driving around half of the enclave's population southward toward the al-Mawasi humanitarian zone.

Media outlets in Israel said the plan for full military occupation of Gaza allegedly sparked dissent from Zamir.

Defense Minister Israel Katz, however, wrote on X on Wednesday: "Once decisions are made by the political echelon, the IDF will execute them with determination and professionalism."

On Tuesday, Netanyahu held a three-hour meeting with the security chiefs, including Zamir, to discuss options for the new phase in the offensive. At the meeting, Zamir warned that a full occupation would be like "walking into a trap", public broadcaster Kan reported.

Channel 12 television said the armed forces chief suggested three alternatives, including encircling specific areas where Hamas militants are believed to be hiding.

Recent polls showed a clear majority of Israelis now favor a deal with Hamas and an end to the conflict. Many believe Netanyahu is delaying a resolution to keep his far-right coalition intact, as ultranationalist ministers have threatened to withdraw support if any deal is made.

Israel's assault on Gaza continued early on Thursday, with at least 23 people killed in attacks across the enclave since dawn, medical sources told Al Jazeera.

Meanwhile, international criticism has surged over the suffering of the more than 2 million Palestinian inhabitants of Gaza after the United Nations warned that famine is unfolding in the territory. Al Jazeera said the number of people who have died from starvation and malnutrition has risen to 193.

According to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, just 1.5 percent of Gaza's farmland is accessible and undamaged, less than 3 square kilometers, according to the latest satellite survey published on Wednesday.

Talking about Gaza's famine, FAO's Director-General Qu Dongyu said: "People are starving not because food is unavailable, but because access is blocked, local agri-food systems have collapsed and families can no longer sustain even the most basic livelihoods."

Agencies and Xinhua contributed to this story.