In a week of escalating tensions, former IDF chief of staff and Yashar Party head Gadi Eisenkot has found himself in two confrontations with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud Party: one over a mockery video, and one over policy on Hamas disarmament and the Israeli military's position in Gaza.

Coverage comparison

The Jerusalem Post reported two separate but related stories this week. The first, published July 30, 2026, detailed how Eisenkot's Yashar Party forced Yonatan Urich, a close adviser to Netanyahu, to delete an AI-generated video that had been posted earlier in the day. According to that Post report, Urich deleted the post after receiving a warning letter from Eisenkot's attorneys. The second report, published August 1, 2026, focused on Eisenkot's public warning that the government would be "leaving Hamas in power," and the Likud Party's sharp rebuttal.

Key claims

  • Video deletion: According to the Jerusalem Post, Eisenkot's Yashar! party forced Yonatan Urich, a close adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to delete an AI-generated video showing U.S. President Donald Trump and Netanyahu joking in Hebrew at Eisenkot's expense. The Post reported that Urich received a warning letter from Eisenkot's attorneys and subsequently deleted the post.
  • Video content and framing: The Post described the video as AI-generated and noted that sources close to Eisenkot said "the voice behind it was Netanyahu's and that of the Likud party."
  • Letter and statement: The Post quoted a letter from Eisenkot's party attorney, Uri Haberman, criticizing the prime minister's office for "spreading poison and venom" rather than focusing on diplomatic achievements. The letter was sent to Urich.
  • Prior video and outrage: The Post also reported that Netanyahu posted an AI-generated video on his official X account last week that sparked widespread outrage among the Israeli public.

Board of Peace framework

Eisenkot warned that Israel would be "leaving Hamas in power" under the Board of Peace's new framework for implementing the U.S. peace plan in Gaza, according to the Post. In an X/Twitter post, he described the framework as "the Netanyahu-Smotrich concept of preferring Hamas rule," linking it to the October 7, 2023, massacre.

"The State of Israel must not accept a reality in which Hamas survives, rearms, and waits for the opportunity to carry out the next massacre!" he wrote.

The Post also reported that the Board of Peace's framework requires Hamas to surrender all its weaponry, and that a diplomatic source told the Post that the IDF will not withdraw from its current Yellow Line position in Gaza until Hamas's full disarmament.

Perspectives

Eisenkot / Yashar Party

Eisenkot argues that the proposed framework leaves Hamas in power and endangers Israel, and that the government lacks the leadership to win. He also rejects the AI-generated video as an attack on his public image and character.

Likud / Netanyahu

The Likud Party, as reported by the Post, responded by accusing Eisenkot of "capitulating" to Hamas, particularly his demand for an IDF withdrawal from Gaza upon his resignation from the Knesset in 2025, calling his conduct "embarrassing." The party questioned how Eisenkotlin could claim Israel must not reconcile with Hamas's survival, while ignoring the progress made under Netanyahu against Hamas leaders.

Naftali Bennett

Former prime minister and current opposition figure Naftali Bennett also weighed in, with the Post reporting that he said Qatar has "seized command" in the Strip while Netanyahu is "bowing his head and folding." He further stated that "Hamas is growing stronger" and must disarm before an IDF withdrawal.