Gantz and Eisenkot resigned from the Israeli war cabinet led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following their disagreements with the president over the post-war in Gaza. Gantz, 65, announced his resignation in a speech broadcast on television, stating that Netanyahu was preventing them from achieving real victory in Gaza and that he had set June 8 as a deadline for an action plan.
Gantz was serving as the Minister without Portfolio after the attack by Hamas in southern Israel. Another member of his party also left the war cabinet, leaving it with only three members. Gantz demanded an “action plan” on the post-war issue in the Gaza Strip and had set June 8 as a deadline.
These resignations did not put the government at risk but dealt a political blow to Netanyahu eight months after the start of the war against Hamas in Gaza. Minutes after the announcement, Netanyahu urged Gantz not to give up and join forces in Israel’s existential battle against several fronts. The ones killed during the assault were reported at least 274 by Hamas government’s Health Ministry.
Gantz was expected to be a favorite to form a coalition government if Netanyahu’s Executive fell and early elections were called. However, these events took place after an announcement that indicated four hostages would be released during a military operation in central Gaza. In his speech, Gantz expressed his regrets about not being able to bring back all hostages home and felt responsible towards those who remained captive.
