Ex-IDF Chief Eisenkot Vows to End Hamas Rule in Gaza Within 18 Months
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
Former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot vowed Thursday to end Hamas's rule in Gaza within 18 months of entering the Prime Minister's office, pledging to destroy the group's military wing. He criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for failing to achieve war aims and allowing Hamas to rebuild. The Likud party questioned Eisenkot's plan, while his party accused Netanyahu of strengthening Hamas over 17 years.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Gadi Eisenkot pledged to end Hamas rule in Gaza within 18 months of becoming Prime Minister.
- Eisenkot vowed to destroy Hamas's military wing through a Trump-based plan or military action.
- He accused Prime Minister Netanyahu of failing to achieve war goals and allowing Hamas to rebuild.
- Eisenkot criticized the government's strategic failure despite broad public and international legitimacy.
- The Likud party questioned Eisenkot's ability to dismantle Hamas without his political partners' consent.
- Eisenkot's party accused Netanyahu of strengthening Hamas over 17 years and predicted his ouster.
Former IDF Chief of Staff and Yisrael! party chairman Gadi Eisenkot declared Thursday that Hamas will no longer govern the Gaza Strip within 18 months of his entry into the Prime Minister's office. Speaking near the Gaza border just 12 days before elections, Eisenkot pledged to destroy Hamas's military wing, either through a plan based on President Trump's framework, adopted by the Netanyahu government, or through military operations.
Eisenkot sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating that as long as Netanyahu remains in power, Hamas will continue to rule. He accused Netanyahu of surrendering to draft dodgers, coalition partners, and Hamas, despite his public image. The former military chief also condemned the war's management, asserting that no previous Israeli government had received such broad public and international legitimacy, only to achieve such a profound strategic failure. He highlighted that three years after the October 7th massacre, Hamas still controls Gaza, rearming and rebuilding its capabilities.
Eisenkot contrasted the battlefield achievements of soldiers with Netanyahu's failure to meet his own stated objectives in Iran, Lebanon, and Gaza. He emphasized that inaction is not inevitable and that disaster can be prevented. Eisenkot outlined his plan, which includes making brave decisions, formulating a national strategy, establishing a state commission of inquiry into October 7th, and implementing its lessons. He expressed confidence in his ability to lead the IDF, Mossad, and Shin Bet professionally.
The Likud party responded swiftly, questioning how Eisenkot would dismantle Hamas without the permission of his partners Mansour and Tibbi. The Yisrael! party retorted that Netanyahu and Likud have misled Israelis for 17 years and strengthened Hamas. They suggested that more focus on their governing duties, rather than message crafting, might have prevented October 7th, and predicted their departure from office in 12 days.
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