The Jerusalem Post quoted informed sources as saying that Zamir linked his departure to Washington to progress in the truce negotiations, which has not yet materialized. The Post explained that the decision to cancel came amid mounting public pressure over the detainees' issue and the worsening disputes between Israel's political and military leadership, particularly after the withdrawal of the American and Israeli delegations from the faltering Doha negotiations.
According to the newspaper, the visit included participation in the retirement ceremony for US Central Command Commander Michael Erik Kurilla in Florida, as well as high-level meetings with senior US defense and intelligence officials and representatives of Jewish organizations to discuss the results of the recent military operations in Gaza and enhance coordination with Washington.
However, during a tour of Gaza on Friday, Zamir assured field commanders that the army would continue to pressure Hamas until all prisoners were returned. Meanwhile, the families of the detainees continue to organize near-daily protests in front of government headquarters, demanding an end to the crisis affecting approximately 50 prisoners, both living and dead, in the Strip.
These developments come amid media leaks about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's adherence to hardline positions, including his insistence on reoccupying Gaza and proposing new conditions, most notably the disarmament of the factions. Hamas considers this a deliberate obstruction of efforts to end the war.
Since the genocide began on October 7, 2023, Israel has continued to commit crimes of murder and starvation against Palestinians in Gaza, resulting in more than 209,000 deaths and injuries, most of them children and women, in addition to thousands of missing persons and a worsening famine that has claimed the lives of many.
