Former IDF chief of staff and MK Gadi Eisenkot on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of “buying time” by delaying a decision to either invade Gaza City or move forward with a deal to free hostages in an interview on KAN Reshet Bet.
Tuesday’s cabinet meeting will decide if the government “saves or abandons the hostages,” Eisenkot said. “There is a consensus among the people, the Knesset, and the government, who approve the deal as part of a general agreement,” Eisenkot added.
“Netanyahu is jumping from plan to plan. His blindness receives support from 68 MKs who do not understand their responsibility. He does not listen to public opinion. The coalition’s primary fear is losing its seats. And history will judge them for this,” he added.
“Netanyahu only follows two great strategists like Ben-Gvir and Smotrich and his political advisers,” Eisenkot continued. “That’s why, after 100 weeks of the IDF’s strength, we still cannot defeat these ‘ruthless’ enemies. The goal is only to buy time.”
Eisenkot also spoke about his son, Gal, who fell in southern Gaza in December 2023: “Gal along with Chief Sgt. First Class Eyal Meir Berkowitz paid with their lives to return the fallen. The government is running away from responsibility and is not worthy of Gal, not worthy of Eyal, and not worthy of many soldiers and hostages who lost their lives due to cowardice and political hesitation.”
Eisenkot: Gantz’s heart is in the right place, but he is making a mistake
Regarding MK Benny Gantz’s call for the establishment of a “Hostage Redemption Government,” Eisenkot said he thinks “Gantz’s heart is in the right place, but he is making a grave mistake.”
“What should be done is to push Netanyahu politically and publicly to make the decision he has been avoiding for over a year and do everything to replace him,” he said.
“I will do everything to ensure that this bad government does not continue in office,” Eisenkot added.
“And when I say I will do everything, it includes the possibility of announcing that I will run for prime minister. Right now, it’s too early, but there are very good candidates. I am currently busy building a governmental alternative.”