Israeli War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz resigned from the emergency government

Israeli War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz quit Benjamin Netanyahu’s emergency government, saying the prime minister was making “total victory impossible”.

Announcing his resignation on Sunday, Gantz said the government must put the return of the hostages captured on October 7 by Hamas “above political survival”.

“A few months after the disaster in October, the situation in the country and in the decision-making cabinet has changed. Netanyahu and his partners have turned unity into an empty call that has no coverage. Fatal strategic decisions are met with hesitation and procrastination because of 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.”

A few 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 an empty call that has no coverage. Fatal strategic decisions are met with hesitation and postponement due to political considerations”.

Benny Gantz, a centrist member of Israel’s three-member War Cabinet, makes a statement in Ramat Gan, Israel, Sunday, June 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

A central 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, thanks to Gantz’s good working relationship with US officials.

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For now, the move will not have an 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 appeal to Benny Gantz – do not leave the emergency government. do not give up unity”.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, a right-wing member of Netanyahu’s government, demanded a Cabinet seat, saying Gantz and the smaller cabinet had botched the war effort because of “dangerous ideological decisions.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid called Gantz’s decision important and just, arguing that it is time to replace Netanyahu’s government with one that will lead to the restoration of security, the release of hostages and the rehabilitation of Israel’s economic and international status.

The Forum for Hostages and Missing Families said Gantz’s departure should not affect support for a deal to free the remaining hostages.

“The Netanyahu deal is still on the table and only he can return all the hostages: the living for rehabilitation and the dead for burial,” the Forum said in a statement.

Gantz has warned that he will resign by June 8 if Netanyahu does not formulate a new plan for post-war Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L), Defense Minister Yoav Gallant (C) and Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz hold a press conference at the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv on October 28, 2023, amid ongoing fighting 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 Palestinian territory for more than 24 hours. (Abir Sultan/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

He canceled a planned press conference on Saturday evening after four Israeli hostages were rescued from Gaza earlier in the day.

Israel said the hostages – three men and a woman – had been rescued in the largest hostage recovery operation since the start of the eight-month war.

Noa Argamani, 26, Almog Meir Jan, 22, Shlomi Ziv, 41, and Andrey Kozlov, 27, were rescued in two separate locations in a special complex daytime operation in the heart of Nuseirat from 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 special complex daytime operation in the heart of Nuseirat from central Gaza. They had been held captive by terrorist group for 246 days.

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At least 274 Palestinians, including children, were killed in the attack, Gaza health officials said.

Fox News Digital’s Michael Dorgan and The Associated Press contributed to this report.