Former IDF Chief Gadi Eisenkot Blames Netanyahu and Ministers for Gaza War Failures

On the 1,000th day since the outbreak of the October 7 war, former IDF Chief of Staff and ex-war cabinet member Gadi Eisenkot published a sharp public letter criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government. Eisenkot accused them of spreading lies, evading responsibility, and managing the war based on political and foreign interests rather than national security. He described the collapse of Israel's national security principles within 45 minutes on the morning of the attack but praised the solidarity of citizens who took up arms.

Eisenkot stated that a leader's role in war is to uphold war objectives and improve Israel's strategic position, which he claimed Netanyahu failed to do. While the security leadership took responsibility, the current government denies it, promotes the evasion of thousands of soldiers, and makes decisions disconnected from the people's needs. He accused the government of fostering chaos and spreading falsehoods about those who volunteered to defend the country to maintain its power.

He named Netanyahu, Israel Katz, Avi Dichter, Eli Cohen, Yariv Levin, Gila Gamliel, Miri Regev, Bezalel Smotrich, and Itamar Ben-Gvir as chiefly responsible for the failures. Despite this, Eisenkot expressed cautious optimism that a critical reform including the establishment of a state inquiry commission would begin in the coming months.

In a defensive section, Eisenkot revealed that Yariv Levin, Eli Cohen, and Miri Regev were the only ministers who opposed the Gaza maneuver. He clarified that the decision to capture Rafah and the Philadelphi route was unanimously approved by the war cabinet, contradicting claims that only Netanyahu pushed for it. He also noted that Netanyahu himself secured unanimous approval for a second ceasefire deal involving a 42-day phased halt in fighting, similar to the first agreement.