Gantz’s resignation from Israel’s war cabinet spells trouble for Netanyahu

Benny Gantz, leader of the Israeli Resilience party and a member of the war cabinet, has resigned from Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Gantz, a moderate who joined the cabinet days into the war against Hamas, has repeatedly expressed his frustration with the prime minister over a lack of a plan for Gaza.

‘Netanyahu is preventing us from progressing towards a true victory,’ Gantz said in a TV address on Sunday night. ‘For this reason we are leaving the emergency government today, with a heavy heart, yet wholeheartedly.’ Gantz also called on Netanyahu to set a date for elections, adding: ‘Do not let our nation tear apart.’

Gantz’s decision to walk away means that he has finally followed through on his threat to resign. Gantz had previously called for progress on six key issues: the return of hostages, the destruction of Hamas militarily and politically, finding an alternative ruler for Gaza, allowing Israeli refugees from northern Israel back home after creating safer conditions for them to return, normalising relations with Saudi Arabia, and reversing a policy that lets orthodox Jews off national service.