JUNE 10, 2024: Leaving With Heavy Heart Israel War Cabinet Minister Quits Over Gaza Plan . In a significant political development, Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz resigned from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's emergency government on Sunday. This move comes as the conflict in Gaza continues unabated, and Netanyahu's government faces mounting pressure.

Gantz, a former general and defense minister, cited his failure to secure a post-war plan for Gaza, which he had been advocating for since May, as the reason for his departure. His resignation marks the first major political setback for Netanyahu eight months into the Gaza war against Palestinian Hamas militants.Although Gantz's exit is unlikely to topple the government—a coalition comprising religious and ultra-nationalist parties it underscores internal dissent and increases Netanyahu's reliance on his right-wing partners. Gadi Eisenkot, another former army chief and member of Gantz's party, also resigned from the war cabinet, leaving it with only three members responsible for making key decisions about the conflict. Netanyahu is preventing us from progressing to a real victory. That is why we are leaving the emergency government today with a heavy heart,Gantz stated. He urged Netanyahu to set an election date to prevent further national division. In response, Netanyahu quickly called for unity, stating, Benny, this is not the time to abandon the battle this is the time to join forces. Netanyahu's far-right coalition partners, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, expressed their reactions swiftly.

Ben Gvir demanded inclusion in the war cabinet, while Smotrich criticized Gantz's resignation during wartime, particularly as hostages remain captive in Gaza.The Hostages and Missing Families Forum criticized the resignation, emphasizing the need for leadership to secure the hostages' release. Gantz, acknowledging the criticism, apologized to the hostages' families for not achieving their release.On Saturday, Netanyahu had urged Gantz to remain, especially after Israeli forces rescued four hostages from Gaza. However, Gantz's departure has been seen as a move towards possible early elections, with his centrist National Union Party already submitting a bill to dissolve the Knesset, Israel's parliament.

Political analyst Mairav Zonszein noted that Gantz's resignation removes the coalition's moderate element, leaving Netanyahu with far-right ministers whose roles in the government will be closely watched. Netanyahu faces growing pressure from his far-right allies, who oppose any hostage release deals and insist on continuing the war until Hamas is destroyed. The coalition's slim majority of 64 out of 120 seats in the Knesset underscores its dependence on far-right support.The ongoing conflict, sparked by Hamas's October 7 attack on southern Israel, has resulted in significant casualties. According to Israeli figures, 1,194 people, mostly civilians, were killed in the attack, with 251 hostages taken, of whom 116 remain in Gaza, including 41 believed to be dead. Israel's retaliatory offensive has claimed at least 37,084 lives in Gaza, predominantly civilians, as reported by the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.