Former Israeli army chief breaks ranks by declaring a ceasefire is the only hope of seeing hostages released

A member of Israel’s war cabinet has broken ranks by declaring that only a ceasefire deal will help secure the release of hostages.

Former army chief Gadi Eisenkot questioned the strategy of forcing Gaza into submission and trying to eliminate the terror group’s rulers, saying: “Whoever speaks of an absolute defeat (of Hamas) is not telling the truth.”

The opposition politician’s comments were a veiled attack on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies.

On Thursday, Netanyahu rejected the American view that Israel’s military action should lead to the creation of a Palestinian state.

He said Israel should have “security control over all territory west of the Jordan,” adding, “That conflicts with the idea of ​​(Palestinian) sovereignty.”

Eisenkot told Israel’s Channel 12 network: “The hostages will only return alive if there is a deal, coupled with a significant pause in the fighting.” Pictured: Gaza City on January 6

Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the American view that Israel’s military action should lead to the creation of a Palestinian state

Yesterday the British Foreign Office said: ‘A two-state solution, with a viable and sovereign Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel, is the best route to lasting peace.’

Eisenkot told Israel’s Channel 12 network: “The hostages will only return alive if there is a deal, coupled with a significant pause in the fighting.”

He said this should be “three or four times” as long as the weeklong lull in fighting in November, which saw a limited release of hostages.

He added that to claim they can be liberated in any other way is “spreading illusions.”

Eisenkot, whose son Gal, 25, was killed in the conflict last month, called for early elections so Israelis could deliver their verdict.

He said, “Israel must ask itself… ‘How do we move forward from here with a leadership that has failed us miserably?’