Israel war cabinet member Benny Gantz threatens to quit unless there’s a new Gaza plan
- The Netanyahu rival spelled out a six-point proposal that includes the return of scores of hostages, ending Hamas’ rule and demilitarising the Gaza strip
- The announcement by Gantz escalates a divide within Israel’s leadership over seven months after the start of an offensive aimed at dismantling Hamas
Benny Gantz, a popular centrist member of Israel’s three-member War Cabinet, threatened on Saturday to resign from the government if it doesn’t adopt a new plan in three weeks’ time for the war in Gaza, a decision that would leave Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu more reliant on far-right allies.
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 October 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 normalise 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.