ISRAEL-GAZA BORDER: Israeli opposition politician Gadi Eisenkot, Prime Miniter Benjamin Netanyahu's main rival in upcoming elections, vowed Thursday to defeat Hamas in Gaza if he becomes prime minister following the Oct 27 vote.
"Today I give a public commitment: from the moment I enter the Prime Minister's Office, within 18 months Hamas will no longer rule the Gaza Strip," the leader of the centre-right Yashar party said at a press conference near the war-ravaged Palestinian territory.
He said he would achieve this either by implementing US President Donald Trump's ceasefire plan for Gaza, which provides for the gradual disarmament of Hamas and a transfer of power, or through "creative operations" by Israel's military aimed at destroying the Palestinian movement's military wing.
Meanwhile, Israel's army chief said on Wednesday that the military was reinforcing troop levels "across all fronts", citing an increased risk of escalation as the country heads into elections this later month.
On a visit to the occupied West Bank, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said the potential for incidents on Israel's borders had grown because of the election period, with Netanyahu facing a tight race to stay in power in the Oct 27 poll.
"In light of the increased number of alerts across all fronts and the sensitivity of this period, the potential for escalation has grown," he said, according to an Israeli military statement.
"We have reinforced our forces across all areas."
He added that the military had raised its level of readiness as it prepares "for scenarios in which attempts may be made to catch us by surprise".
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