Gadi Eisenkot, a retired general who served as the 21st Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from 2015 to 2019, entered the Israeli political arena by joining the National Unity party. His transition from military leadership to civilian governance has been marked by his focus on national security strategy and his participation in the war cabinet following the October 7 attacks.

Eisenkot is generally viewed as a pragmatic security hawk. During his military career, he was known for the 'Dahiya Doctrine,' a strategy involving the use of disproportionate force against civilian infrastructure in areas used by militant groups to deter future conflict. In his political capacity, he has often advocated for a more structured approach to military operations and has occasionally clashed with more right-wing members of the government regarding the prioritization of hostage negotiations versus military escalation.

There is some debate regarding his political alignment. While he is a member of a centrist-leaning party, his supporters emphasize his deep institutional knowledge and commitment to state stability. Conversely, critics from the left have questioned his past military decisions, while some on the right have criticized his willingness to engage in political compromises that they view as detrimental to long-term security goals. His public statements have consistently emphasized the need for a unified national strategy, though he has faced challenges in reconciling his military background with the complexities of coalition politics.