Israeli military has ‘lost complete confidence’ in chief of staff: Retired general
Retired Israeli General Itzhak Brik has lashed out at Israel’s military leadership and questioned its competency, saying he has heard firsthand reports that Israeli soldiers are being disproportionately killed by booby traps, projectiles and friendly fire.
He also said Israeli soldiers had told him the military is inflating its reports of Hamas casualties and Israeli soldiers rarely engage in close-quarters combat.
Speaking to the Maariv news site, Brik singled out Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, saying he has “fragmented the Israeli army”, which has “lost complete confidence in him”. He accused Halevi of failing to keep in check Israeli commanders who lack operational discipline and are negligent, causing many soldiers to be killed and injured.
Halevi “is much more at fault than anyone else”, said Brik, who previously headed the military’s educational unit. “Therefore, he is afraid to take legal action against the commanders who have erred, lest he be asked why he is not punishing himself and resigning.”
Brik added: “If a deal for the return of the hostages and a ceasefire is not reached, the situation could deteriorate, and we might face even greater danger.”
Israeli government finances storming of Al-Aqsa: Palestine ministry
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry says the Israeli Ministry of Heritage has allocated 2 million shekels (about $543,000) to support far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound.
This reflects “an official Israeli policy aimed at intensifying the Judaisation of Al-Aqsa and altering its status quo, which threatens to ignite tensions in the West Bank”, it said in a statement.
Ben-Gvir, who has personally stormed the compound with armed security and extremist settlers on multiple occasions, expressed his support for building a synagogue in the Holy Muslim site yesterday.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir at Al-Aqsa compound on August 13
