Gantz leaves Israeli war cabinet and calls for new elections

Because Prime Minister Netanyahu has still not presented a post-war strategy for the Gaza Strip, Minister Gantz is leaving the Israeli war cabinet. The political consequences are still unclear. By J.-C. Kitzler.

Benny Gantz was actually expected to resign from the Israeli war cabinet a day earlier. But after the release of four hostages in the Gaza Strip, his statement was postponed.

On Sunday evening, Gantz finally made a statement – announcing that he was leaving the war cabinet and criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He said he was preventing the country from achieving the real victory that would justify the painful, ongoing losses. That is why his party would leave the unity government. “With a heavy heart, but with a pure heart,” said Gantz.

Gantz enjoys a lot credibility

Gantz enjoys a lot of credibility in Israel on military issues, as he was once the army’s chief of staff and defense minister. The fact that he became part of the war cabinet after the terror attacks of October 7 and the start of the war in the Gaza Strip gave Netanyahu a boost and was seen as a sign of unity in difficult times.

He now apologized to the hostages’ families for not having managed to bring the majority of the hostages home.

Patience lost with Netanyahu

Gantz had recently lost patience with the war in Gaza, demanded a plan for the future of the Gaza Strip from Netanyahu and issued an ultimatum. Netanyahu did not respond.

Gantz has clear ideas about a possible new election: To ensure a real victory, new elections should be held in the autumn, one year after the disaster, after which a government should be formed that enjoys the people’s trust and is ready to face the challenges. “I appeal to Netanyahu: set a date for new elections. Do not allow our people to be torn apart,” Gantz urges.

Unclear what exit means

The immediate political consequences of Gantz’s withdrawal are still unclear. Netanyahu said on Platform X that this is not the time for election campaigns, it is the time to join forces.

Harsh tones from right-wing Coalition partners

Harsh tones are coming from Netanyahu’s right-wing extremist and ultra-religious coalition partners, who reject any concessions to the Palestinians and thus oppose not only a new hostage deal but also plans for the future of the Gaza Strip. Itamar Ben Gvir, the right-wing extremist Minister of National Security, demanded to be included in the war cabinet himself.

There has also been criticism of Gantz’s withdrawal from outside politics. For example, Itzik Bonzel, representative of a right-wing group called “Heroism”, who met with Netanyahu yesterday, said on Israeli television that he had the feeling that they were not leaving the boat for substantive reasons, but because of political projections and foreign influences. “How can I, as a minister, stand in front of the soldiers who are risking their lives in the Gaza Strip and say: I’m leaving the boat?” criticized Bonz.

Support from hostage relatives

Many of the hostages’ relatives and the tens of thousands who now take to the streets every week are demanding the government’s resignation – and that Netanyahu finally assume political responsibility.

Demand for new elections

Shelly Shem Tov, the mother of a man abducted to the Gaza Strip, is primarily concerned with the release of the hostages: “I am calling for a broad unity government. The emphasis is on broad. A government in which everyone can see themselves. Together they should bring the hostages back. Yes, it will require courage and yes, we will have to say: we tried everything in a warlike manner. But just look at what happened here. Can you imagine the joy when all 120 are home? It would also give the people strength to carry on. We are all stuck.”

But there are currently no signs of a new government or even new elections in Israel – not even after the popular politician Gantz has resigned from the war cabinet.