Netanyahu Summons Defense Minister Katz and Chief of Staff Zamir as Clashes Escalate Over October 7 Failures

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu summoned Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir to a joint meeting on Tuesday morning, following two days of mounting public confrontation between the two over the handling of the findings on the failures of October 7. 

The clash began Monday morning, when Katz claimed he had been blindsided by Zamir’s disciplinary decisions regarding IDF commanders connected to the failures of October 7. They said Katz had learned of the conclusions “from the media,” rather than through formal updates. By midday, Katz announced a dramatic step of freezing all senior IDF appointments, meaning promotions and new high-command posts that require his approval, until Defense Ministry Comptroller Yair Volanski completes a new, independent 30-day review of the IDF’s own October 7 failures. This new review would be separate from the IDF’s internal investigation known as the “Turgeman Committee report” which Zamir commissioned and presented, and would have the military examined from outside the chain of command as well.

The decision set off a sharply worded response from Zamir Monday evening: “I learned this morning from the media about the steps the Defense Minister intends to take regarding the review team I established when I entered office.” He warned that Katz’s attempt to question the report “written over seven months by 12 generals and signed by the IDF commander, and which was presented to the minister personally, is puzzling.”

Zamir reiterated that the Turgeman findings were never intended for political maneuvering. “The Turgeman Team report was defined from the outset as an internal tool… not for political use,” he said. The IDF added that “the committee heard more than hundreds of testimonies, conducted in-depth examinations and carried out a professional process,” and argued that a 30-day comptroller review “is not substantive.”

He also issued a critique of the political echelon. “The IDF is the only body in the country that investigated itself deeply over its failures and took responsibility for them,” he said, adding that if further review was required, it must be “a body external to the IDF — objective and independent — that examines the inter-organizational and multi-level processes… including the interface between the military and political echelons,” meaning the government’s role would also need to be examined.

Zamir further attacked Katz’s freeze on promotions: “Freezing IDF appointments for another thirty days harms the army’s capability and its preparedness for upcoming challenges.” As for his disciplinary steps, he insisted they were purely internal military decisions that “do not require approval.”

Katz responded later that night: “I respect the Chief of Staff, who knows very well that he is subordinate to the Prime Minister, to the Defense Minister, and to the government of Israel,” he said, adding, “I do not intend to fight through the media.” He emphasized that “the Defense Ministry Comptroller will present his conclusions within 30 days, and only afterward will I formulate my decisions regarding appointments.”

After these exchanges Netanyahu stepped  in Monday night and summoned both leaders for a clarifying discussion the next day.

By Tuesday morning, ahead of the meeting, sources close to Katz sought to dial things down while still disagreeing with Zamir. They said that “there is no doubt that once the investigations are completed, further steps against additional senior IDF officials will be unavoidable, and stricter measures will be required.” They acknowledged that “the Chief of Staff acted within his authority — but based on partial and incomplete information.”

At the same time, Katz’s associates stressed his commitment to full transparency. “All material related to October 7 must be fully investigated and exposed — for the public and for the bereaved families… and no cover-up will be allowed,” they said.

Netanyahu’s meeting is expected to address both the personal dispute and the deeper institutional questions raised by the clash, as the government and the IDF continue to confront the failures of October 7.