Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on Minister Benny Gantz not to resign from the “war government,” but Gantz intends to hold political consultations today, Sunday, regarding the date of his resignation from the government, after he canceled a conference that was scheduled for this purpose yesterday.
“I call on Benny Gantz… do not leave the emergency government,” Netanyahu said on the X platform, adding that the time is “for unity, not division.”
Before that, Gantz announced yesterday the cancellation of a press conference during which the Israeli media expected that he might announce his resignation. The cancellation came after the Israeli forces announced that they had recovered 4 detainees held by the resistance from the central Gaza Strip.
Gantz said after the operation, “In addition to the justified joy of the achievement, we must remember all the challenges that Israel faces.” He added, “Therefore, I say to the Prime Minister and the entire leadership: Today we must look responsibly at what is right and possible to move forward.”
Gantz – the former army commander, and one of the main opponents of Benjamin Netanyahu – had previously said before joining the war government, “The return of hostages from Gaza is a priority.”
Israeli media reported that Gantz will hold political consultations today, Sunday, regarding the date of his resignation from the government. She added, quoting members of the “State Camp Party”, that there has been no change so far in Gantz’s decision to resign from the government.
She also said, according to the same source, that the Gantz conference that was scheduled yesterday was only postponed and not cancelled. Members of the State Camp party pointed out that Netanyahu’s statements “are not reflected in actions on the ground, and nothing has changed, and that he still refuses to make strategic decisions required for Israel’s security.”
The Israeli Broadcasting Authority quoted those close to Gantz as saying that despite the news they described as “good” after the recovery of the four detainees, “Netanyahu’s orientations have not changed,” stressing that “they do not want local success, as they described it.”
They added that Gantz will resign if Netanyahu’s orientations do not change, amid disagreements between the two over the war on the Gaza Strip.
Gantz had called on the war government to adopt an “action plan” regarding the post-war period in the Gaza Strip, otherwise he “will be forced to resign from the government,” setting yesterday, Saturday, June 8, as a deadline.
His centrist National Union party also submitted a bill last week to dissolve the Knesset and hold early elections.
Gantz is seen as the most likely candidate to form a coalition in the event that Netanyahu’s government is overthrown and early elections are held.