Ex-General Ofer Winter Slams Gadi Eisenkot Over War Strategy Claims

Former IDF Brigadier General and "Am Israel" party chairman Ofer Winter launched a sharp attack on "Yashar!" party chairman Gadi Eisenkot on Thursday, responding to an interview where Eisenkot claimed Winter had intimidated the Prime Minister at the start of the Gaza war. Winter stated, "I heard Gadi Eisenkot claiming this morning that I intimidated the Prime Minister at the start of the Gaza war. It is important for the public to know the truth."

Winter argued that the IDF's initial plans for entering Gaza were based on a strategy of rounds and raids, not the intensive warfare he believed was necessary. He asserted that he pushed at the time to avoid repeated raids, advocating instead for pushing Gazan civilians south and establishing a "smart siege" to allow the IDF to employ greater force and protect soldiers.

Winter further accused Eisenkot and IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi of having their recommendations adopted, leading to the current situation. He pointed to Hamas still being operational, its elite Nukhba force significantly recruited, and Israel continuing to send hundreds of trucks of aid to Gaza, despite the prolonged conflict.

Addressing Eisenkot directly, Winter declared, "The General Staff that you built as Chief of Staff led the IDF on October 7th, with a disastrous perception of the enemy and fundamentally mistaken about protecting IDF soldiers."

Concluding his remarks, Winter linked the dispute to the upcoming elections, framing the vote as a decision on who will be responsible for the nation's security. He promoted his party, "Am Israel," promising a broad national government, voluntary emigration from Gaza, and "real security assessment."