In a controversial television statement, Giora Eiland, former head of the Israeli National Security Council and author of the "Generals' Plan," described the recent war on Gaza as a "decisive Israeli failure" and a clear victory for Hamas.

Eiland said: "This war was a failure by all standards. Hamas not only frustrated Israel's goals, but achieved its strategic objectives, the most prominent of which is remaining in power and enhancing its legitimacy." He added: "The agreement reached does not prevent Hamas from rebuilding its capabilities, but allows it to do so, which means that any subsequent Israeli attempt to obstruct it will constitute a breach of the agreement."

Details of the Ceasefire Agreement

The ceasefire agreement, mediated by Qatari, Egyptian, and American forces, will go into effect on Sunday at 8:30 AM Gaza time. The agreement includes three phases lasting 42 days, with the first phase involving a prisoner exchange, where Israel will release a number of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for 33 Israeli prisoners, including women, children, and the elderly. The agreement also stipulates a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.

The Controversial "Generals' Plan"

The "Generals' Plan," proposed by Giora Eiland in September 2024, is aimed at forcibly displacing the residents of northern Gaza through a suffocating blockade that prevents humanitarian aid from entering, starving the population and pushing them to either surrender or die. The plan includes turning northern Gaza into a "closed military zone" to completely eradicate the presence of Hamas. Eiland and Israeli army generals believe that controlling northern Gaza will weaken Hamas and incite the residents of Gaza to rise up against it.

Diverse Reactions

Eiland's statements regarding Israel's failure have sparked a wave of criticism within Israeli circles, especially as they come amid significant pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu's government from the opposition and the military, who see that the war did not achieve its objectives.