Israel’s war cabinet minister Benny Gantz has threatened to resign from the government if it doesn’t adopt a new plan for the war in Gaza, a move that would leave Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu more reliant on far-right allies.
In a statement that saw quick reaction from other members of the government, Gantz said he believed that in recent months, the war triggered by the Hamas-led October 7 killed was drifting off course.
“While Israeli soldiers are displaying incredible bravery on the front, some of the people who sent them to battle are acting with cowardice and a lack of responsibility,” Gantz was quoted saying by The Times Of Israel. “While in the dark tunnels of Gaza, the hostages are undergoing the agonies of hell, there are some who are involved in nonsense,” he said. “While the Israeli public is outdoing itself, some of the politicians are thinking of themselves.” “A war is only won with a clear and realistic strategic compass,” he said.
Gantz’s Gaza Plan
The announcement deepens a divide in Israel’s leadership more than seven months into a war in which Israel has yet to accomplish its goals of dismantling Hamas and returning scores of hostages abducted in the militant group’s Oct. 7 attack. Gantz spelled out a six-point plan that includes the return of hostages, ending Hamas’ rule, demilitarising the Gaza Strip and establishing an international administration of civilian affairs with American, European, Arab and Palestinian cooperation.
The plan also supports efforts to normalize relations with Saudi Arabia and widen military service to all Israelis. He gave a June 8 deadline. “If you choose the path of fanatics and lead the entire nation to the abyss — we will be forced to quit the government,” he said. Netanyahu in a statement responded by saying Gantz had chosen to issue an ultimatum to the prime minister instead of to Hamas, and called his conditions “euphemisms” for Israel’s defeat.
Gantz, a longtime political rival of Netanyahu, joined his coalition and the War Cabinet in the early days of the war in a gesture of national unity. His departure would leave Netanyahu more beholden to far-right allies who believe Israel should occupy Gaza and rebuild Jewish settlements there. Gantz spoke days after Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, the third member of the War Cabinet, said he would not remain in his post if Israel elected to reoccupy Gaza, and called on the government to make plans for a Palestinian administration.
In an apparent swipe at Netanyahu, Gantz said “personal and political considerations have begun to penetrate into the holy of holies of Israel’s security.” Netanyahu’s critics accuse the prime minister of seeking to prolong the war to avoid new elections, allegations he denies. Polls suggest Gantz as the most likely candidate to be the next prime minister. That would expose Netanyahu to prosecution on longstanding corruption charges.
Netanyahu is under growing pressure on multiple fronts. Hard-liners want the military offensive on Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah to press ahead. The US and other allies warn against the offensive on a city where more than half of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million had sheltered and they threaten to scale back support over Gaza’s humanitarian and hunger crisis. The US national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, will be in Saudi Arabia and Israel this weekend to discuss the war and is scheduled on Sunday to meet with Netanyahu, who has declared that Israel would “stand-alone” if needed.
(With agency inputs)
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