Palestinians rush to collect aid airdropped into Gaza City, northern Gaza Strip, on Thursday

Agencies JERUSALEM

Eyal Zamir, the Israeli armed forces chief of staff arguing against a full takeover of Gaza, is the latest in a long line of generals to tussle with PM Benjamin Netanyahu. Zamir fears endangering the lives of remaining hostages and miring an exhausted military in Gaza, he told Netanyahu during a stormy meeting on Tuesday, though he is expected to seize the last areas of the besieged territory if ordered to do so.

Speaking on Thursday as Netanyahu's war cabinet prepared to meet, Zamir defended his right to speak out on the military's behalf, calling the culture of debate "an inseparable part of the history of the Jewish people". But he also said the military now had the ability to establish a new security reality along the border. "Our intention is to defeat Hamas and continue to operate with our hostages at the forefront of our minds," he said.

Israeli media say Netanyahu sees taking over of Gaza as the only way to destroy Hamas and free hostages still held by the group following the breakdown of ceasefire talks. Reports, though, say the head of the military and some ministers disagree, amid warnings such a move could be disastrous for the hostages and Palestinian civilians.

Top UN official Miroslav Jenča told the UN Security Council earlier this week that it would be against international law and was a "deeply alarming" prospect. The Israeli military currently controls about three-quarters of Gaza. The vast majority of Gaza's population has already been displaced by the war and many more would be uprooted if the army takes over remaining areas.

Tens of thousands of Israeli soldiers would need to be sent to Gaza to carry out the takeover. Reports say the plan initially focuses on taking full control of Gaza City, relocating its one million residents further south. Forces would also take control of refugee camps in central Gaza and areas where hostages are thought to be held.