Israeli Minister Criticizes Netanyahu’s Gaza Strategy as Calls for Election Grow
On Wednesday, internal strife within the Israeli government deepened as a cabinet minister openly criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the ongoing Gaza war. Knesset member Gadi Eisenkot, serving as an observer in the war cabinet, has called for national elections by the end of the year, citing failures in security, economic policy, and diplomatic initiatives.
Eisenkot, a former military chief whose personal tragedy saw his youngest son killed in Gaza last December, challenged Netanyahu’s assertions of an imminent victory over Hamas. He criticized the Prime Minister for promoting unrealistic expectations about the conflict’s resolution and the return of hostages. According to Eisenkot, stabilizing Gaza post-Hamas could take up to five years, with additional time required to establish a viable governance alternative.
The criticism comes at a critical juncture, as Israel’s air and ground offensive in Gaza, initiated last October to dismantle Hamas, continues to face skepticism from various quarters about its long-term effectiveness. The Likud party responded on Telegram, accusing Eisenkot and war cabinet minister Benny Gantz, another Netanyahu rival, of using the war as a pretext to exit the coalition government for political gain.
The latest exchange signals growing tensions within Netanyahu’s coalition, which has expanded to include a broader emergency government. Despite these challenges, Netanyahu could still maintain a parliamentary majority with the support of ultra-nationalist factions, who have proposed more extreme measures, including the annexation of Gaza.
