Israeli war cabinet starts to unravel as Benny Gantz becomes 1st to resign

Israeli War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz resigned in a speech on Sunday evening from the emergency unity government formed after the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel, marking the first resignation from the cabinet since the beginning of the Gaza war.

Gantz also called for new elections this fall that will “ultimately lead to the formation of a government that has won the trust of the people and be able to face the challenges.”

In a statement after Gantz’s speech, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “Israel is in an existential war on several fronts” and “this is not the time to abandon the campaign — this is the time to join forces.”

Why did Gantz leave the cabinet?

Gantz resigned, citing the absence of a concrete plan from the Netanyahu government to both rescue captives and secure victory in the Gaza war.

Addressing a press conference in Tel Aviv, Gantz also accused Netanyahu of preventing real victory by allowing political considerations to impede strategic decisions in the Gaza war.

It is impossible to win the war according to Netanyahu’s plan.

Benny Gantz

Gantz said at a televised news conference that Netanyahu’s promise of total victory against Hamas was empty and that Israelis deserve “a real victory” that “puts the release of the hostages above political survival.”

Netanyahu prevents us from getting a real victory. That is why we are leaving the emergency government today, with a heavy heart but with full confidence,

Benny Gantz

Gantz also revealed his proposed action plan during the meeting, which includes:

• the return of hostages from Gaza
• undermining Hamas’s rule, the disarmament of the Gaza Strip
• establishing a European-Arab coalition to manage the region
• ensuring the return of northern residents to their homes
• universal military service for all Israelis.

Why did Gantz postpone his resignation deadline?

Last month, Gantz, who joined the government on Oct. 7, set June 8 as a deadline for Netanyahu to draft a post-war plan to “achieve victory” in the Gaza Strip or he will leave the coalition.

Gantz was supposed to announce his departure on Saturday but postponed it due to the operation to rescue 4 Israeli hostages who were held by Hamas in Gaza.

The families of Israeli hostages in Gaza have also urged Gantz not to resign until a prisoner exchange agreement is reached with Hamas.

Who else followed Gantz’s lead?

Rosenfeld, who is the first IDF combat commander to resign since Oct. 7, wrote in his letter of resignation, that he failed in his mission to protect the Israeli civilians in the towns and villages along the border with Gaza.

Netanyahu, we clearly see that your decisions do not serve the interests of the country.

Gadi Eisenkot

The corrupt illusionary government has lost its legitimacy with the departure of Gantz and Eisenkot

Former Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon

After the resignations, Israeli Public Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir applied to join the war cabinet.

What will happen?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, which still holds a 64-member majority in the Knesset, won’t fall apart but it will likely be destabilized. Gantz’s exit is also likely to exacerbate the political crisis in Israel as the war in Gaza continues and as hostage and ceasefire negotiations are ongoing.

• Gantz is seen by the Biden administration and many other Western and Arab governments as a moderate. His departure is likely to increase U.S. and international pressure on Netanyahu.
• With Gantz’s withdrawal, Netanyahu’s government will be dominated even more by the ultranationalist ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, who will likely increase pressure on the prime minister to take an even more hardline approach to the war in Gaza, take steps against the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and escalate attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
• Secretary of State Antony Blinken will arrive in Israel tomorrow and meet with Gantz, Netanyahu, and other Israeli officials.