News Flash: Eisenkot’s Gaza Critique Sparks Outcry Over “Fantasy” Demilitarization Clause Opinion.
Former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot ignited a political firestorm on Saturday after posting a blunt message on his Facebook page, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of blurring the truth and delaying a ceasefire deal with Hamas that, in Eisenkot’s words, could have saved both hostages and soldiers’ lives.
Eisenkot claimed that on May 27, Netanyahu presented a hostage deal to the war cabinet, unanimously approved, which included four key components:
- Exchange of hostages for prisoners
- Permanent ceasefire
- Withdrawal from Gaza
- Gaza’s rehabilitation in exchange for demilitarization
The former IDF general charged that despite military leaders confirming the deal’s viability, “political and personal considerations” obstructed implementation, leaving hostages and soldiers to pay the price. “A government afraid to make a necessary decision is not worthy to lead this people,” Eisenkot wrote.
The post was prominently featured on Kan Radio’s 18:00 bulletin, further amplifying its impact—and triggering a sharp backlash from Netanyahu supporters.
Critics, however, swiftly pushed back on Eisenkot’s claim, calling the “demilitarization clause” a non-starter that Hamas has never agreed to and labelling the entire framework a “flying pig” condition—a fantasy presented as diplomacy.
A viral rebuttal accused Eisenkot, Reshet Bet radio, and The New York Times Magazine—which earlier on Saturday ran a controversial piece alleging Netanyahu prolonged the war to cling to power—of peddling false narratives during wartime.
The rebuttal emphasized that demilitarization was never realistically on the table, with Hamas openly refusing to disarm. It praised Netanyahu’s recent meeting in Washington with hostage families, where he reportedly candidly told them that if Hamas won’t agree to disarm, Israel would impose demilitarization by force.
The author of the rebuttal pointed readers to an Alan Kessel article in The Spectator for a more grounded analysis, calling out the mainstream Israeli and international press for allegedly misleading the public.
The fiery exchange underlines the deep political and strategic divide within Israel’s leadership and media over how to end the Gaza war, the conditions required for peace, and the moral calculus surrounding the remaining hostages. With over 20 believed alive and 30 dead still held by Hamas, the debate continues to rage over whether military pressure or diplomatic compromise offers the only path forward.
In the words of one commentator: “Sure, a peaceful demilitarization deal sounds great—but like Oslo, this pig won’t fly.”
