Eisenkot Pledges to End Hamas Rule in Gaza Within 18 Months if Elected

Former IDF Chief of Staff and Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot promised to dismantle Hamas within a year and a half of taking office, drawing sharp criticism from Likud.

Former IDF Chief of Staff and leader of the Yashar party, Gadi Eisenkot, pledged that if elected prime minister, he would bring an end to Hamas rule in the Gaza Strip and destroy its military wing within 18 months. According to reports by Walla and Srugim, Eisenkot delivered the remarks in a special address near the Gaza border, less than two weeks ahead of the Knesset elections.

Eisenkot criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, arguing that Hamas will continue to rule the enclave as long as Netanyahu remains in power, Kan 11 also reported. The Likud party responded sharply, questioning how Eisenkot could dismantle Hamas without receiving approval from his political partners, Mansour Abbas and Ahmad Tibi.