Ex-IDF Chief Eisenkot Vows to Oust Hamas in 18 Months, Sparking Political Firestorm
Translated & summarized from Mignews by baba
Former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot promised to end Hamas rule in Gaza within 18 months if elected prime minister, also vowing to destroy its military wing. His October 15th speech, just before elections, drew sharp criticism from Prime Minister Netanyahu's Likud party and Ofer Winter's People of Israel Party. Likud questioned Eisenkot's coalition possibilities, while Winter's party accused Eisenkot of promoting failed policies that led to the October 7th attacks.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Gadi Eisenkot pledged to end Hamas rule in Gaza within 18 months and destroy its military wing.
- Eisenkot accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of strategic failure and failing to achieve objectives.
- Likud questioned Eisenkot's ability to fulfill promises without support from Arab political factions.
- The People of Israel Party criticized Eisenkot for promoting a failed deterrence policy.
- Eisenkot's speech occurred 12 days before the Knesset elections, with security a key election issue.
Former IDF Chief of Staff and leader of the Yashar Party, Gadi Eisenkot, speaking near the Gaza border on October 15, pledged to end Hamas's rule in Gaza within 18 months of becoming prime minister. He also vowed to dismantle the militant group's military wing and sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of failing to achieve military and political objectives.
Eisenkot presented his security platform, stating, "I commit: within 18 months of my taking office as prime minister, Hamas will no longer govern the Gaza Strip. We will achieve the destruction of its military wing." He suggested this could be accomplished either through implementing a U.S. plan adopted by Netanyahu's government or via decisive military operations.
The former chief of staff accused Netanyahu of a disconnect between rhetoric and results, saying, "As long as Benjamin Netanyahu remains in power, Hamas will remain in power. The man who hangs posters saying 'We do not surrender' will be the first to surrender, to draft dodgers, coalition partners, and Hamas." Eisenkot called the government's actions a major strategic failure, noting that three years after the October 7th attacks, Hamas still controls Gaza, rearming and rebuilding its capabilities.
Responding to Eisenkot's remarks, the Likud party questioned his ability to achieve his goals without the support of potential coalition partners Mansour Abbas and Ahmad Tibi. The Yashar Party countered that Netanyahu and Likud had "deceived the citizens of Israel and strengthened Hamas" for 17 years, suggesting that greater focus on duties rather than campaigning might have prevented the October 7th attacks.
The People of Israel Party, led by Ofer Winter, also criticized Eisenkot, labeling him a proponent of the failed "deterrence concept" and accusing him and other former military leaders like Yair Golan, Aharon Haliva, and Herzi Halevi of promoting policies that led to the October 7th catastrophe. The party proposed Winter for defense minister and Yosef Haddad for minister of international public diplomacy, advocating for the voluntary departure of Gaza residents instead of readmitting Palestinian workers to Israel.
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