Benny Gantz, a centrist member of Israel’s three-man war Cabinet, announced his resignation Sunday, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of mismanaging the war effort and prioritizing his own “political survival” over the country’s security needs.
The move does not pose an immediate threat to Netanyahu, who still maintains a majority coalition in parliament. However, Netanyahu now heavily relies on far-right allies who oppose the latest U.S.-backed cease-fire proposal and are in favor of continuing the war.
“Unfortunately, Netanyahu is hindering our ability to achieve true victory, which justifies the ongoing sacrifice,” Gantz stated. He also criticized Netanyahu for “making empty promises” and advocated for a different direction moving forward as he foresees the conflict continuing for years.
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The former military chief joined Netanyahu’s government after the Hamas attack to show unity and enhance Israel’s credibility with its international partners. Gantz has established good working relationships with U.S. officials.
Gantz had previously indicated that he would leave the government by June 8 if Netanyahu failed to devise a new plan for postwar Gaza.
He canceled a planned news conference Saturday night following the dramatic rescue of four Israeli hostages from Gaza. The operation resulted in the death of at least 274 Palestinians, including children, according to Gaza health officials.
Gantz called for elections in the fall and urged Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, the third member of the war Cabinet, to also resign from the government. Gallant had stated he would resign if Israel chose to reoccupy Gaza and encouraged planning for a Palestinian administration.
On Saturday, Netanyahu implored Gantz to remain in the emergency wartime government, emphasizing the importance of unity over division.
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Gantz’s decision to resign is largely symbolic due to his frustration with Netanyahu, according to Gideon Rahat, chairman of the political science department at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Rahat pointed out that this move could further increase Netanyahu’s reliance on right-wing members of his government.
“I think the outside world, especially the United States, is not very happy about it, because they see Gantz and his party as the more responsible individuals within this government,” Rahat stated.
Ben-Gvir, the National Security Minister, demanded a spot in the war Cabinet on Sunday, criticizing Gantz and the smaller Cabinet for their handling of the war effort.
The conflict, which began with a Hamas attack and the kidnapping of 250 hostages on Oct. 7, has resulted in about 1,200 deaths. A weeklong cease-fire in November led to the release of about half of the hostages, but approximately 120 remain captive, with 43 reported dead. Gaza’s Health Ministry estimates that at least 36,700 Palestinians have been killed in the fighting.
