Military Analyst Giora Eiland’s Shocking Confession: “I Severely Abused My Soldiers”

Giora Eiland, a retired IDF Major General turned prominent military analyst, has stunned audiences with a chilling confession: as a young platoon commander, he “severely abused” his soldiers, engaging in conduct that, by today’s standards, would have landed him in prison “a hundred times.”

In a candid interview on Keshet 12’s Intimi program, aired today (Thursday) Eiland, a familiar face in Israel’s news studios, expressed remorse for his actions, revealing a dark chapter from his early military career that has sparked outrage and reflection on leadership accountability.

Eiland, who rose to the rank of Major General and now provides expert commentary on channels like Srugim, described himself as “deranged” during his time as a platoon commander. “I was abusing my soldiers with severe abuse,” he admitted, declining to provide specific examples but noting, “There are things we’ll move past. My soldiers forgave me for everything that happened.”

The confession took a darker turn as Eiland recounted a “major failure” in his leadership. He admitted to backing a squad commander who crossed the line from tough discipline to “sadistic” abuse. “I supported him for far too long,” Eiland said, revealing that his entire platoon eventually refused orders in protest, leading to a collective absence without leave.

"At a certain point, my entire platoon refused an order. We left them confined to base while the rest of the company went home: they collectively went AWOL. Two weeks later, there was a battalion drill. Chief of Staff David 'Dado' Elazar showed up with the top military brass and held a talk with the entire battalion."

The situation escalated during a battalion exercise attended by Elazar and top brass, where a soldier, Re’anan Valed, exposed the “horrific abuses” in Eiland’s platoon near Nabi Musa. Valed, whom Eiland called his “most beloved soldier,” was killed in the Yom Kippur War six months later, adding a tragic weight to the memory.

“I was humiliated, and rightly so, before the Chief of Staff for my lack of responsibility as a commander,” Eiland said.

Eiland’s admission also dealt a symbolic blow to figures like Yair Golan, a former deputy chief of staff whose own controversial remarks have drawn scrutiny, though no direct link was specified.

Unfortunately, Eiland’s regret, while sincere, cannot erase the pain inflicted on his soldiers, raising questions about how past abuses shape the military’s present culture. “My soldiers forgave me,” he insisted, but for many, the scars of such “deranged” command may linger.