A centrist member of Israel's three-person war Cabinet on Sunday made good on a threat to resign, and accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of bungling the fight against Hamas.
Benny Gantz, a popular former army general who joined Netanyahu's government as a "minister without portfolio" following the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, also called for Israel to hold fall elections in which he could potentially replace Netanyahu.
"Unfortunately, Netanyahu is preventing us from achieving true victory, which is the justification for the painful and ongoing price," Gantz said during a televised address, the Associated Press reported.
The move came after Netanyahu on Saturday publicly urged Gantz to stay in the government.
"I call on Benny Gantz — do not leave the emergency government. Don't give up on unity," the embattled prime minister wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Gantz accused Netanyahu, who faces pending corruption charges in Israel and a prosecution request for a war crimes arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court, of making "empty promises," and of putting his "political survival" ahead of Israel's security needs.
He also called on Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to "do the right thing" and likewise quit the war cabinet.
Last month, Gantz said he would resign by Saturday if Netanyahu didn't come up with a new plan for the war against Hamas. Gallant has also said he would step down if Israel decided to reoccupy Gaza.
Gantz had been expected to announce his resignation on Saturday night but he canceled a planned news conference after Israeli commandos rescued four hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza.
Gideon Rahat, chairman of the political science department at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, told AP that Gantz's move could further increase Netanyahu's reliance on the extremist, far-right members of his coalition government.
"I think the outside world, especially the United States, is not very happy about it, because they see Gantz and his party as the more responsible people within this government," Rahat said.
