Eisenkot Vows to End Hamas Rule in Gaza Within 18 Months

Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yishar! Im Eisenkot party, pledged on Thursday that if he heads the government, he will end Hamas's rule in the Gaza Strip within 18 months of taking office. Speaking at a security briefing near the Gaza border, Eisenkot criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's policy, asserting that the government has failed to translate the achievements of soldiers into achieving the war's objectives.

"From the moment I enter the Prime Minister's office, within eighteen months Hamas will no longer rule the Gaza Strip. This will be an official goal of the government under my leadership," Eisenkot stated. He outlined two potential approaches: implementing a plan based on a framework approved by Netanyahu's government, or utilizing military and operational capabilities to dismantle Hamas's military wing.

Eisenkot presented a timeline for developing this plan, proposing that within 150 days of forming his government, the capabilities of the National Security Council would be restored, and a plan to dismantle Hamas's rule would be formulated. This plan, he said, would be developed with security establishment leaders and presented to oversight bodies, including the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

He argued that three years after the October 7th massacre, Hamas continues to rule Gaza and rebuild its strength, citing intelligence reports and senior security officials who indicate the organization is rearming and attempting to advance terror operations against Israel. Eisenkot criticized the current government's strategic failure despite significant public and international legitimacy, stating, "There has never been a government in Israel that received so much room to maneuver and legitimacy, from the public and the world, and suffered such a resounding strategic failure." He accused Netanyahu of avoiding decisive actions due to political considerations and coalition pressures, claiming, "As long as Benjamin Netanyahu is in power, Hamas will remain in power."

Eisenkot also addressed the return of hostages, thanking IDF soldiers, security forces, and former U.S. President Donald Trump and his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner for their contributions. He mentioned his son Gal, who fell in Gaza in December 2023, and two nephews who also died in the war. Eisenkot called for a state commission of inquiry into the massacre and the implementation of its lessons, emphasizing the need for brave decisions and a national strategy to prevent future disasters. He drew on his own security experience, including his time as commander of the Judea and Samaria Division and leading the "Northern Shield" operation as Chief of Staff, to assert his readiness to lead Israel's security agencies professionally.