Gadi Eisenkot Urged Hostage Deal at 'Zero Cost' to Save Lives, Book Claims
Journalist Ruti Yuval, co-author of the book "Hostages - 843 Days of Abandonment," revealed details from interviews with Gadi Eisenkot regarding the first hostage deal negotiations. According to Yuval, Eisenkot pleaded with the government to continue efforts to release hostages, even at a minimal exchange rate, stating, "It's not important right now to educate Sinwar, I don't care if he thinks he tricked us and came out looking great and we are suckers. Let's be suckers by choice, let's bring back everyone we can and then continue fighting." Yuval recounted that during government discussions, Hamas initially offered only seven elderly men and three deceased hostages, claiming they couldn't locate the women.
Yuval described a stark division within the decision-making body, with almost everyone, including then-IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, advocating to resume military operations and "bring Hamas to its knees." Eisenkot was the sole voice urging a delay in resuming combat to facilitate further hostage releases. When Netanyahu asked if anyone else shared Eisenkot's view, Eisenkot was the only one to stand firm and "literally begged."
The book's authors interviewed numerous individuals, including American officials, Qatari mediators, and Hamas members, though many Israeli political figures declined to be quoted. Yuval noted the stark contrast in exchange ratios between this deal and the Gilad Shalit deal, where one hostage was exchanged for 1,027 Palestinian prisoners. Eisenkot reportedly told Netanyahu that the perceived "trickery" by Hamas was secondary to the imperative of saving lives.
Yuval also shared that Eisenkot expressed that the hostage situation was the most painful issue for him, particularly as his son, Gal Meir Eisenkot, was later killed during an operation to rescue fallen hostages. Prime Minister Netanyahu and then-Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer were offered the opportunity to be interviewed for the book but did not respond to multiple requests.
