Tel Aviv [Israel], Israel's War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz announced his resignation from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's emergency government on Sunday amid continued delays in the hostage deal, Al Jazeera reported.
Gantz's decision has come at a time when the war between Israel and Hamas is in its eighth month and the situation in West Asia remains critical.
"Netanyahu is preventing us from moving toward true victory. That's why it is with a heavy heart but with full confidence that we are leaving the emergency government today," Gantz said in a televised news conference on Sunday.
Gantz said, "There must be elections that will ultimately install a government that will win the confidence of the people and will be able to face challenges." He called for early elections in the country amid growing anger among citizens due to the ongoing war.He said, "I urge Netanyahu: Set an agreed election date."
In response to Netanyahu's failure to present a post-war plan for the Gaza Strip, where Israeli ground attacks have killed more than 37,000 people since October 7, according to Gaza health officials, Gantz resigned from the emergency government last month. The group, which was established last year to monitor the war in Gaza, according to Al Jazeera.
Meanwhile, Israel says its attack in Gaza is a response to the Hamas attack on October 7 in which many of its people were not only killed but also taken hostage.
Gantz told reporters, "Protests are important, however, they need to be organized in a legal manner and they should not promote hatred. We are not enemies of each other.Our enemies lie beyond our borders."
“I will be part of a national unity government that includes all centrist parties and only that choice will allow us to face all the challenges facing us, even with Netanyahu. As I said, We need true and real unity, not partial unity,” he said after leaving the emergency government, Al Jazeera reported.
Gantz also urged Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant to "do what is right."
In a brief statement, Netanyahu urged Gantz "not to leave the front", but said the right-wing coalition in power in the 120-seat Knesset would retain its parliamentary majority of 64 seats in the event of Gantz's departure.In Israel, Gantz is seen as Netanyahu's main political rival.
Before joining the War Cabinet, he was a leading member of the opposition.
The conflict escalated in Gaza following an October 7 attack by Hamas, where approximately 2,500 militants crossed the border from the Gaza Strip into Israel, causing casualties and capturing hostages.
Israel has described its Gaza offensive as targeting Hamas infrastructure with the goal of eliminating the entire terrorist group while attempting to minimize civilian casualties.
Gantz's decision has come at a time when the war between Israel and Hamas is in its eighth month and the situation in West Asia remains critical.
"Netanyahu is preventing us from moving toward true victory. That's why it is with a heavy heart but with full confidence that we are leaving the emergency government today," Gantz said in a televised news conference on Sunday.
Gantz said, "There must be elections that will ultimately install a government that will win the confidence of the people and will be able to face challenges." He called for early elections in the country amid growing anger among citizens due to the ongoing war.He said, "I urge Netanyahu: Set an agreed election date."
In response to Netanyahu's failure to present a post-war plan for the Gaza Strip, where Israeli ground attacks have killed more than 37,000 people since October 7, according to Gaza health officials, Gantz resigned from the emergency government last month. The group, which was established last year to monitor the war in Gaza, according to Al Jazeera.
Meanwhile, Israel says its attack in Gaza is a response to the Hamas attack on October 7 in which many of its people were not only killed but also taken hostage.
Gantz told reporters, "Protests are important, however, they need to be organized in a legal manner and they should not promote hatred. We are not enemies of each other.Our enemies lie beyond our borders."
“I will be part of a national unity government that includes all centrist parties and only that choice will allow us to face all the challenges facing us, even with Netanyahu. As I said, We need true and real unity, not partial unity,” he said after leaving the emergency government, Al Jazeera reported.
Gantz also urged Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant to "do what is right."
In a brief statement, Netanyahu urged Gantz "not to leave the front", but said the right-wing coalition in power in the 120-seat Knesset would retain its parliamentary majority of 64 seats in the event of Gantz's departure.In Israel, Gantz is seen as Netanyahu's main political rival.
Before joining the War Cabinet, he was a leading member of the opposition.
The conflict escalated in Gaza following an October 7 attack by Hamas, where approximately 2,500 militants crossed the border from the Gaza Strip into Israel, causing casualties and capturing hostages.
Israel has described its Gaza offensive as targeting Hamas infrastructure with the goal of eliminating the entire terrorist group while attempting to minimize civilian casualties.
