Giora Eiland (Hebrew: גיורא איילנד; born 1952 in moshav Kfar Hess) is a retired Major General of the Israel Defense Forces and a former head of the Israeli National Security Council.

In 2003, with the end of his term in the Planning Directorate, Eiland rejected an offer to become IDF attache in Washington, and retired from the army after 33 years of service.

Eiland left the Planning Directorate and the IDF to accept, in January 2004, Sharon's offer that he head the National Security Council (NSC).

[2][10] Eiland was the fourth NSC head in the six years of the Council's existence, the others being David Ivri, Uzi Dayan, and Ephraim Halevy, and could not penetrate the walls around the Prime Minister's office.

Eiland agreed that a political initiative was needed, but objected to both the content of Sharon's proposal and the procedure for preparing and presenting it.

After the implementation of the disengagement plan had been concluded, Eiland informed the Prime Minister that he had exhausted his ability to influence the process and he decided to resign from the NSC.

In 2006, Eiland was appointed by the Chief of Staff, Dan Halutz, as the head of the examination committee of experts, to investigate the capture of the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit by the Hamas to Gaza Strip.

[14] At the beginning of the Israel–Hamas war, Eiland spoke out against an Israeli ground invasion, stating that it would be a "terrible mistake" as soldiers would have to clear every home and remove booby traps from tunnels many kilometers long, all while battling thousands of Hamas fighters.

He also wrote that: "Epidemics in the South [of Gaza] will bring victory closer and will decrease casualties among IDF soldiers", arguing that this tactic would encourage Hamas to surrender.

B'Tselem referred to Eiland's op-ed as evidence that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is the "intended result" of Israeli policy.

[22] Additionally, The Times of Israel referenced Eiland's op-ed in an article about an IDF soldier who died of a fungal infection acquired in Gaza.

"[26] The plan was condemned by Israeli human rights organisation Gisha, who argued that it was "absolutely not the case" that "if the population is given a chance to evacuate and they don’t, then somehow they all turn into legitimate military targets.

[27][28] This plan was proposed by the Eiland-led Forum of Reserve Commanders and Fighters, and includes orders for all residents to leave within a week; a full siege on water, food, and fuel; and then to arrest or kill all who remain.

[29][30] In response, Tamer Qarmout, a professor of public policy at the Doha Institute, stated, "We’re talking about another wave of displacement – another Nakba.