Eisenkot Pledges to End Hamas Rule in Gaza Within 18 Months
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Gadi Eisenkot, Chairman of Yesh Atid, pledged that if he becomes Prime Minister, Hamas will be removed from power in Gaza within 18 months. He stated a plan to dismantle Hamas rule would be developed within 150 days of his government's formation. Eisenkot criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for failing to achieve war aims and allowing Hamas to rebuild. He also claimed the return of hostages was not an initial war objective.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Gadi Eisenkot vowed to end Hamas rule in Gaza within 18 months if he becomes Prime Minister.
- A plan to dismantle Hamas's rule would be formulated within 150 days of Eisenkot forming a government.
- Eisenkot criticized PM Netanyahu for failing to meet war objectives and allowing Hamas to rebuild.
- He claimed the return of hostages was not an initial objective of the war.
- Eisenkot called for a state commission of inquiry into the events of October 7th.
Gadi Eisenkot, Chairman of the Yesh Atid party, declared on Thursday that if he were to lead the government, Hamas would no longer control the Gaza Strip within 18 months of his taking office. Speaking near the Gaza border, Eisenkot stated this would be an official objective of his government, emphasizing that "Hamas in power is an Israeli loss. A reality we must not accept." He vowed, "I will not allow it."
Eisenkot outlined two potential paths to achieve this goal: implementing a plan similar to one proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, which was accepted by the Netanyahu government, or utilizing military capabilities to dismantle Hamas's military wing. "I know how to do this. I have done it before," he asserted.
Furthermore, Eisenkot committed to developing a clear plan to dismantle Hamas's rule within 150 days of forming a government under his leadership. He stated this plan would be formulated in collaboration with security establishment leaders and presented to oversight bodies, including the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
During his address, Eisenkot sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, arguing that despite military successes, the war's objectives have not been met. "In Iran, Lebanon, and Gaza, there is a chasm between the achievements of the fighters on the ground and Netanyahu's failure to meet the goals he himself defined," he said. Eisenkot claimed Hamas is still in control of Gaza and is rebuilding its military capabilities, while accusing Netanyahu of succumbing to coalition partners and Hamas, leading to international isolation.
Eisenkot also addressed the issue of hostage recovery, stating that their return was not initially a war aim but was added nine days later after he insisted. He thanked IDF soldiers, security forces, and former President Trump and his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner for their efforts in the hostage recovery process. Eisenkot concluded by calling for a state commission of inquiry into the events of October 7th and the implementation of lessons learned, stating he possesses the knowledge and experience to lead the security agencies professionally.
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