Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz has reprimanded the territory’s military chief over appointments made without his approval, as tensions simmered between the military and the executive ahead of a planned expansion of the Gaza offensive, AFP reports.

A statement from Katz’s ministry said that deliberations conducted by chief of staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir on military appointments “took place… without prior coordination or agreement” with the minister.

The statement added that this was “in violation of accepted procedure” and that Katz therefore “does not intend to discuss or approve any of the appointments or names that were published”.

In an army statement published shortly afterwards, Zamir responded that he was “the sole authority authorised to appoint officers from the rank of colonel upwards”.

Israeli media reported that Zamir was opposed to a plan approved by the security cabinet on Friday to take control of all of densely populated Gaza City. Zamir favoured encircling Gaza’s largest city, rather than conquering it, the reports said.