Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s key rival, Benny Gantz, announced Sunday that he is quitting the war Cabinet after a postwar plan for the Palestinian enclave failed to materialize.
Gantz announced his resignation in a televised event on Sunday, stating that Netanyahu stood in Israel’s way to “a real victory.”
“That is why we are leaving the emergency government today with a heavy but whole heart” Gantz said.
Netanyahu who had earlier appealed to Gantz to reconsider his stand on pulling out of the government replied through his verified X handle saying, “this is not the time to abandon the campaign — this is the time to join forces.”
“Citizens of Israel, we will continue until victory and the achievement of all the goals of the war, primarily the release of all our hostages and the elimination of Hamas,” Netanyahu wrote.
The move by Benny Gantz may actually be more political than any consideration for the outrageous casualties from the Gaza war.
During his resignation address, Gantz said there should be elections this fall “that will eventually establish a government that will win the trust of the people and be able to face challenges.”
“I call on Netanyahu: set an agreed election date. Don’t let our people be torn apart,” Gantz said.
Political analysts believe Gantz action may be due to the perceived loss of supporters who see him as the alternative to Netanyahu. Gantz continuous stay in the war cabinet is seen as a support for the actions of the Netanyahu government which is loosing support both locally and internationally.
Widespread condemnation of the civilian death toll in the war on Gaza has escalated in recent weeks after Palestinians were killed in Rafah, an area considered as the last safe place in the besieged territory. Defenceless and displaced Palestinians civilians who were sheltering in tents, were subjected to ground assault and aerial bombardment killing hundreds. On Saturday, an Israeli attack on central Gaza that rescued four hostages also killed over 270 Palestinians, bringing Gaza death toll to nearing 40,000 .
