Gadi Eizenkot Expresses Frustration Over Gaza Conflict at Devastated Nir Oz Kibbutz

Former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot visited the kibbutz of Nir Oz near the Gaza border on August 6, 2026, expressing deep frustration over the ongoing conflict and political handling of the war against Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Speaking alongside Nir Oz resident and hostage survivor Gadi Mozes, Eizenkot criticized the failure to achieve key war objectives, particularly the dismantling of Hamas’s rule in Gaza, which he said is essential for future prosperity. He also sharply rebuked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s approach, accusing him of exploiting public fears with repeated election slogans about security, opposing a Palestinian state, and engaging with Arab parties despite public rhetoric to the contrary.

Mozes emphasized the urgent need for a state inquiry into the failures that led to the massacre and kidnappings of about a quarter of Nir Oz’s residents during the recent attack. He praised Eizenkot’s efforts to establish such a commission, warning that without a thorough investigation, the kibbutz’s recovery would be impossible. The visit highlighted the ongoing bureaucratic and physical challenges in rebuilding Nir Oz, where many homes remain burned and deserted, and the atmosphere is marked by a haunting silence and visible signs of destruction.

Despite the devastation, some residents have returned and reconstruction work has begun, including planting crops and repairing infrastructure. However, many former residents remain fearful and reluctant to come back. Volunteers from abroad have visited the kibbutz, witnessing the stark contrast between the past and the present. Eizenkot and Mozes called for the new government to prioritize the inquiry commission and support the rehabilitation of communities affected by the conflict. The visit underscored the complex intersection of military, political, and civilian challenges facing Israel’s border communities amid ongoing hostilities.