Benny Gantz, a member of the Israeli war cabinet led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, announced his resignation from the government on Sunday due to disagreements with the president over the post-war situation in Gaza. Gantz expressed his frustration with Netanyahu, stating that he is preventing them from moving towards real victory. In a speech broadcast on television, Gantz appealed to Netanyahu to set an agreed date for elections to avoid further division among their people.
Gantz, who is 65 and the head of the National Union party, was a minister without portfolio in an expanded government after an attack by Hamas in southern Israel. Gantz, along with another member of his party, Gadi Eisenkot, left the war cabinet, leaving it with just three members. Gantz demanded that a plan of action be adopted by the war cabinet for the post-war situation in Gaza, setting a deadline for June 8, after which he said he would resign from the government.
Although these resignations do not put the current government at risk, they deal a political blow to Netanyahu, who has been leading the coalition government. Gantz has been seen as a favorite to form a coalition government if elections are called and Netanyahu’s government falls. Netanyahu responded to Gantz’s resignation urging him not to “give up” the battle, stating that Israel is facing an existential war on multiple fronts.
Gantz was scheduled to hold a press conference on Saturday but had to cancel it after the Israeli army announced the release of four hostages in Gaza. Despite the casualties in Gaza, Gantz remained committed to fulfilling his responsibility to return all hostages home. His resignation marks a significant development in Israeli politics and the ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza.