Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar Party and a former IDF chief of staff, sharply criticized reports of an emerging agreement between Israel and Hamas over the next phase of the war in Gaza, arguing that any deal should be judged solely by whether it achieves Israel’s war objectives.
Responding Thursday evening to reports of a possible agreement, Eisenkot insisted that Israel cannot accept any arrangement that leaves Hamas intact.
“Any agreement will be judged solely by whether it achieves the objectives of the war—the destruction of Hamas’ military and governing capabilities or its complete dismantlement,” he wrote. “Anything less than that is a total failure.”
Eisenkot also criticized Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for not publicly presenting the reported agreement, suggesting the lack of transparency raises serious concerns about Israel’s role in shaping it.
“The fact that the prime minister has chosen not to present the agreement to the Israeli public raises serious questions about whether Israel is actually a partner to it—or whether, once again, an agreement is being imposed on Israel without its involvement,” he said.
His comments came after President Donald Trump announced what he described as a historic agreement calling for the complete disarmament of Hamas, while Israeli officials strongly denied that any agreement regarding Gaza had been reached and insisted that the issue was not discussed during Netanyahu’s meeting with Trump.
Eisenkot painted a bleak picture of the current security situation in Gaza, arguing that nearly three years after the October 7 massacre, Hamas has largely rebuilt its military capabilities despite Israel’s battlefield successes.
“Nearly three years have passed since the morning of October 7, and Hamas has rebuilt its strength, with a number of terrorists similar to what it had on the eve of October 6,” he wrote. “Aside from the return of the hostages, the objectives of the war have not been achieved, despite the military successes the IDF has accomplished and the heavy price that has been paid.”
He concluded with a stinging attack on Israel’s leadership, declaring: “The blindness of the cabinet that failed on October 7 will haunt it forever.”
Eisenkot’s statement followed Trump’s overnight announcement of what he called a landmark Peace Council agreement providing for the complete disarmament of Hamas and the other terrorist organizations operating in Gaza.
According to Trump, “This agreement is a critical step toward a future in which Gaza will finally be governed by a new Palestinian administration that will work closely with the Peace Council to assist its residents. At the same time, Israel will receive the security it deserves, with Gaza no longer serving as a base for terrorist attacks.”
Trump added, “The agreement will be implemented in carefully planned stages. Once the disarmament process is completed, Israeli forces will withdraw, and an international stabilization force will work alongside a new Palestinian police force to ensure that Gaza is safe for both its residents and its neighbors.”
A senior Israeli official stressed Thursday night that Israel continues to insist on Hamas’ complete disarmament, including the removal of all weapons from Gaza and the full demilitarization of the Strip before any political process can move forward.
The official added that the reported 15-point framework does not adequately address those demands and said Israel has conveyed its reservations to envoy Tony Blair.
Meanwhile, IDF operations in Gaza continue. The 188th Armored Brigade Combat Team recently completed eight months of operations in southern Gaza, during which troops destroyed more than ten major underground Hamas facilities, including a tunnel that had been used to hold hostages.
{Matzav.com}