Benny Gantz, the leader of the State Party and a member of Israel's War Cabinet, was set to announce his party's withdrawal from the unity government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling a news conference for Sunday evening. This move comes after Gantz issued an ultimatum in May demanding a clear post-war plan for Gaza by June 8, which the government has failed to present.
Gantz's six-point plan outlined a vision for the governance of Gaza after the conflict, including the release of Israeli captives, demilitarization of the territory, and the formation of an international coalition to oversee its civil affairs. He insisted that neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority could rule Gaza post-war and called for the complete dismantling of Hamas's military wing, echoing Netanyahu's calls for "total victory."
The lack of a coherent post-war strategy has fueled tensions within the war cabinet, with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also publicly disagreeing with Netanyahu on the future of Gaza. The US government has expressed concern over the absence of a clear plan and urged Israel to protect civilians and present a credible vision for Gaza's future.
Netanyahu is facing mounting public pressure, with tens of thousands of protesters gathering in Tel Aviv, demanding his resignation due to his handling of the war and failure to secure the release of the remaining 120 captives. Opposition Leader Yair Lapid has pledged to work towards the fall of Netanyahu's government and the return of the captives. Families of the captives have also called on Gantz and former army chief Gadi Eisenkot to expose the truth and swiftly remove Netanyahu from power, believing he is abandoning the hostages.
