Gantz announced his resignation in a televised event on Sunday, where he said Netanyahu stood in Israel’s way to “a real victory.”
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’ resignation comes amid global condemnation of the Palestinian civilian death toll in the war on Gaza that has piled domestic and international pressure on Netanyahu.
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 heart, but with a whole heart,” Gantz said.
Netanyahu addressed Gantz in an X post following his resignation, 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.
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.
In May, Gantz demanded that Netanyahu agree to a day-after plan for the war in Gaza and threatened to withdraw his National Unity party from the coalition on June 8 unless the prime minister had a plan for the enclave’s postwar governance.
Netanyahu missed the Gantz’ deadline after distancing himself from President Joe Biden’s cease-fire deal, presented last month as an Israeli proposal.
On Saturday, Netanyahu called on Gantz to remain in the coalition, saying in a post on X, “This is the time for unity and not for division.”
Widespread condemnation of the civilian death toll in the war on Gaza has escalated in recent weeks after dozens of people were killed in Rafah in an area where displaced civilians were sheltering in tents. On Saturday, an Israeli attack on central Gaza that rescued four hostages also killed over 270 Palestinians, bringing Gaza’s death toll to more than 37,000 since the start of the war last October, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health.
A U.N. top court has already ordered Israel to halt its offensive in Rafah, and the latest round of civilian casualties, including two attacks on U.N.-run schools in the Nuseirat and Shati refugee camps, will only deepen hostilities between it and Israel.
Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/benny-gantz-quits-war-cabinet-rcna156159