Israeli War Cabinet Minister Threatens to Resign Over Post-War Gaza Plan

Benny Gantz has laid out a six-point plan he wants the war cabinet to adopt

Benny Gantz has threatened to end the state of emergency in Israel government unless Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu develops a post-war plan within three weeks.

Mr Gantz, Israel's war cabinet minister, demanded that Mr Netanyahu develop a plan for war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, including who might lead the besieged territory after the conflict ends.

In a televised news conference on Saturday evening, Mr. Gantz laid out a six-point plan he wanted the cabinet to adopt.

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It includes the return of Israeli hostages, the end of Hamas rule, the demilitarization of Gaza, temporary international civilian administration of the territory supported by the United States, European and Arab countries, and efforts to normalize relations with Saudi Arabia.

It will also expand the national service for all Israelis, including ultra-Orthodox Jews, who are currently exempt from military conscription and have two parties in Netanyahu's coalition.

Hundreds of Palestinians gather for aid in Gaza Photo: Anadolu

Mr Gantz, an opposition figure and former general, said that his centrist National Unity party would leave Mr. Netanyahu's fragile emergency coalition if he demands it. were not completed by June 8.

His ultimatum deepens divisions within Israel's fragile emergency government, which has been fighting a war for more than seven months in which it has yet to achieve its stated goals of defeating Hamas and returning hostages kidnapped by the terrorist group.

Israeli soldiers discovered the bodies on Friday hostages 22-year-old German-Israeli Shani Luk, 28-year-old Amit Buskila and 56-year-old Yitzhak Gelerenter were found in the Gaza Strip.

The discovery of the body of a fourth hostage was announced on Saturday. .

Hostages Yitzhak Gelerenter, Shani Luk and Amit Bouskila in the Gaza Strip

Mr. Gantz, a popular politician and longtime political rival of Mr. Netanyahu, joined the Israeli prime minister's coalition and military cabinet after the Hamas attack on October 7.

“If you choose the path of fanatics and lead the entire nation to the abyss, we will be forced to leave the government,” he said on Saturday evening.

But Gantz's departure could make Netanyahu more dependent on far-right allies who have taken a hard line in the ceasefire and hostage negotiations and believe that Israel should occupy the Gaza Strip and restore Jewish settlements there.

This has only happened days after Yoav Gallant, Israel's defense minister and third member of the military cabinet, issued a rare rebuke of Netanyahu, whom he accused of being indecisive about the future of post-war Gaza.

Mr Netanyahu faces with pressure mounting on multiple fronts: Hardliners in his government support a military offensive in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, while the US and other key allies warn against action in densely populated areas of the city.

< p>Saturday night Israel's prime minister appears to have rejected the ultimatum.

According to Haaretz, the Israeli prime minister called Mr. Gantz's conditions «euphemisms with a clear meaning: end the war, defeat Israel and give up most of the hostages — leaving Hamas intact and creating a Palestinian state.»