Gadi Eisenkot Pledges to End Hamas Rule Within 18 Months

Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot pledged on Thursday to end Hamas rule in the Gaza Strip and destroy its military wing within 18 months of becoming prime minister. Speaking near the Gaza border ahead of the October 27 elections, the Yashar party leader stated he would achieve this goal either through military operations or by implementing a peace plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. Eisenkot accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of failing to translate battlefield gains into lasting security three years after the October 7 massacre, asserting that Hamas will remain in power as long as Netanyahu does.

Eisenkot further vowed to establish a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 attacks within 150 days of forming a new government. In response, the Likud party questioned how Eisenkot could topple Hamas without the support of Arab MPs Mansour Abbas and Ahmad Tibi. Eisenkot denied these figures were viable partners, stating any coalition partner must accept that Hamas is a terrorist organization that must be destroyed. Meanwhile, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Ofer Winter accused Eisenkot of promoting a failed doctrine of containment that led to the October 7 disaster.

Diplomatic tensions emerged as U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee held a secret meeting with Eisenkot to discuss security in Gaza and the West Bank. Simultaneously, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled a scheduled meeting with Huckabee at the last minute without providing a reason. Current polls show the opposition bloc leading Netanyahu's coalition, with the Yashar party polling ahead of Likud.