WarBrief Live | October 27, 2026 | Influencer Profile
Gadi Eisenkot, the former chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), is the main challenger to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel’s election on October 27, 2026. He leads the centrist Yashar party (“Straight”), campaigning on security, leadership, and accountability for the failures surrounding the Hamas-led attack of October 7, 2023. Final television polls on October 23 projected Yashar at 22 to 23 of the 120 Knesset seats, ahead of Likud’s 19 to 21, but polls are projections, not results.
Key Takeaways
- Former IDF chief of staff (2015-2019); founded Yashar in September 2025.
- Final polls: Yashar 22-23 seats, Likud 19-21; neither bloc projected to reach 61.
- Pledges to end Hamas rule within 18 months and hold a state inquiry into October 7.
- Opposes West Bank annexation and the E1 plan; promises action against settler violence.
Who they are
Eisenkot was born on May 19, 1960, in Tiberias to Moroccan Jewish immigrants and grew up in Eilat. He enlisted in the Golani Brigade in 1978 and served for about four decades, becoming the IDF’s 21st chief of staff in February 2015 and serving until January 2019. If he became prime minister, he would be Israel’s first Mizrahi prime minister.
He entered politics in 2022 alongside fellow former chief of staff Benny Gantz. After October 7, 2023, both joined Netanyahu’s emergency war cabinet, then left in June 2024, saying there was no clear post-war plan. His youngest son, Gal, 25, was killed in Gaza in December 2023, and two nephews also died in combat.
Why they matter
Eisenkot matters because he pairs a senior security record with a challenge to Netanyahu on competence and accountability, not on the broad direction of security policy. On Iran and Gaza, his goals overlap substantially with Netanyahu’s; his case is that the government failed in execution, planning, and diplomacy. That makes him the opposition’s strongest pre-election candidate, but also defines his problem: Israel’s president assigns government formation to the lawmaker judged most likely to build a coalition, not automatically to the largest party’s leader.
Key positions
On Gaza, Eisenkot pledges to end Hamas rule within 18 months, through the United States-backed ceasefire plan or “creative” military means. He shares Netanyahu’s goal of preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, but says military gains need diplomacy behind them. He has rejected a two-state solution since October 7, yet opposes West Bank annexation, calls the E1 settlement plan a “mistake,” and promises to crack down on settler violence. Domestically, he promises a state inquiry into October 7 and national service for all, including ultra-Orthodox Jews.
Recent statements
In April 2026, Eisenkot wrote in Yedioth Ahronoth about his son’s death, saying that over Gal’s grave he swore his son’s sacrifice “would not be in vain.” In an interview published on October 24, 2026, he backed U.S. President Donald Trump’s “peace through strength” approach, praised the joint U.S.-Israeli strike on Iran, and accused Netanyahu of stalling U.S.-backed frameworks for Gaza after committing to a ceasefire, hostage exchange, and phased reconstruction.
What to watch next
Polls close at 10 p.m. on October 27, when exit polls appear. The final tally is expected by October 30, and official results on November 4. President Isaac Herzog will then consult party leaders, as covered in WarBrief’s election-eve coverage, and assign formation to the candidate most likely to reach 61 seats.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Gadi Eisenkot?
Former IDF chief of staff (2015-2019) and leader of the centrist Yashar party, challenging Netanyahu in Israel’s October 27, 2026, election.
What do the final polls project?
Yashar at 22 to 23 seats and Likud at 19 to 21. Polls are not results, and neither bloc was projected to reach 61 seats.
How does he differ from Netanyahu?
His security goals overlap with Netanyahu’s, but he argues Netanyahu failed on planning, diplomacy, and accountability for October 7.
Sources
- Indian Express: Who Is Gadi Eisenkot?
- The Hindu: Eisenkot, Netanyahu’s challenger
- Deccan Herald / Reuters: What happens after polls close?
- Jerusalem Post: Final polls and deadlock
- New York Post: Eisenkot on U.S. bonds
- WarBrief: Israel Elections 2026 preview
- WarBrief: Israel Election Eve
