IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said in remarks during a visit to a Haifa naval base on Sunday that the Israeli army has met its objectives in its war with Hamas in Gaza, “including deeply damaging Hamas,” and “as a result of the military pressure, we created the conditions for the release of the hostages.”

According to Israel’s Channel 13, Zamir also said in private conversations, “There is a deal on the table, it’s the improved [U.S. Middle East envoy Steve] Witkoff framework,” apparently referring to the deal Hamas said it agreed to last week.

Senior Israeli officials told Israel’s Channel 12 that that deal is “no longer relevant” because it includes the release of a limited number of hostages, whereas Israel wants to see a comprehensive deal with all 50 hostages released.

Zamir said Sunday that the deal is “in [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu’s hands” and advocated for him to accept it. Zamir claimed that “there is great danger to the lives of the hostages in taking over Gaza City,” a position he held about the operation before its approval, which reportedly led to clashes with Netanyahu.

The IDF has called up tens of thousands of reservists in preparation for its takeover of Gaza City, expected to ramp up in the next several weeks, and is moving to evacuate the residents of the central Gazan city.