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Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz has quit Benjamin Netanyahu’s emergency government, saying the prime minister was making "total victory impossible."
In announcing his resignation Sunday, Gantz said the government needs to put the return of the hostages seized Oct. 7 by Hamas "above political survival."
"Months after the October disaster, the situation in the country and in the decision-making cabinet has changed. Netanyahu and his partners have turned unity into a void call who has no cover. Fateful strategic decisions are met with hesitancy and procrastination due to political considerations," Gantz said. "Netanyahu is preventing us from progressing to a real victory. That is why we are leaving the emergency government today with a heavy heart, but with a whole heart."
Months after the October disaster, the situation in the country and in the decision-making cabinet has changed. Netanyahu and his partners have turned unity into a void call who has no cover. Fateful strategic decisions are met with hesitancy and procrastination due to political considerations."
Benny Gantz, a centrist member of Israel's three-member War Cabinet delivers a statement in Ramat Gan, Israel, Sunday, June 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
A centrist member of Israel's three-man war Cabinet and former military chief, Gantz joined Netanyahu's government shortly after the Hamas attack in a show of unity. His presence also boosted Israel's credibility with its international partners because of Gantz’s good working relations with U.S. officials.
For now, the move will have no immediate impact on Netanyahu, who still controls a majority in parliament.
"This is the time for unity and not for division," Netanyahu wrote on X. "We must remain united within ourselves in the face of the great tasks before us. I call on Benny Gantz – do not leave the emergency government. Don't give up on unity."
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, a right-wing member of Netanyahu's government, has demanded a spot in the Cabinet, saying Gantz and the smaller Cabinet had bungled the war effort due to "dangerous ideological decisions.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid called Gantz's decision important and just, arguing that it was time to change the Netanyahu's government with one that will lead to restore security, hostage releases, and rehabilitation of the economic and international status of Israel.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said Gantz's departure should not affect support for a deal to release the remaining hostages.
"The Netanyahu Deal is still on the table, and only it can return all the hostages: The living to rehabilitation and the dead to burial," read a statement from the Forum.
Gantz has warned that he would resign by June 8 if Netanyahu did not formulate a new plan for postwar Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L), Defence Minister Yoav Gallant (C) and Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz hold a press conference in the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv on October 28, 2023 amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. Netanyahu said on October 28 that fighting inside the Gaza Strip would be "long and difficult", as Israeli ground forces operate in the Palestinian territory for more than 24 hours. (Abir Sultan/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
He scrapped a planned news conference Saturday night after four Israeli hostages were rescued from Gaza earlier in the day.
Israel said the hostages – three men and one woman – were rescued in the largest such hostage recovery operation since the eight-month war began.
Noa Argamani, 26, Almog Meir Jan, 22, Shlomi Ziv, 41, and Andrey Kozlov, 27, were rescued in two separate locations in a complex special daytime operation in the heart of Nuseirat in central Gaza. (IDF)
Noa Argamani, 26, Almog Meir Jan, 22, Shlomi Ziv, 41, and Andrey Kozlov, 27, were rescued in two separate locations in a complex special daytime operation in the heart of Nuseirat in central Gaza. They had been held in captivity by the terrorist group for 246 days.
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At least 274 Palestinians, including children, were killed in the assault, Gaza health officials said.
Fox News Digital's Michael Dorgan and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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