Benny Gantz stated that although Mr. Netanyahu was “preventing real victory” over Hamas, the militant organization Israel has been battling in Gaza for the past eight months, resigning from his position was a “complex and painful decision” to make.
One of Israel’s three military cabinet ministers, Mr. Gantz, announced his departure on Sunday during a televised press conference, saying he was doing so “with a heavy heart but with full confidence”.
He said that the government must prioritize the release of the hostages taken by Hamas “above political survival” and urged the prime minister to call for an election since he was making “total victory impossible”.
In response to Mr. Gantz’s resignation, Mr. Netanyahu declared, “This is not the time to give up on the front.”
The well-liked former military chief’s retirement was anticipated after he gave Mr. Netanyahu until June 8 to submit a comprehensive day-by-day plan for the Gaza confrontation.
Since October 7, when the extremist group carried out a massacre in southern Israel that resulted in 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages being taken prisoner, Israel and Hamas have been at war in Gaza.
There are about 120 captives left in Gaza; 43 have been declared deceased.
Mr. Gantz postponed his intended resignation announcement, which was first scheduled for this Saturday, in response to the miraculous release of four hostages.
