Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on opposition leader Benny Gantz to reconsider his decision to withdraw from the emergency government formed immediately after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.
“Israel is at an existential war on multiple fronts. Benny, now is not the time to give up the fight. It’s time to join forces,” Netanyahu said in a post on social platform X as Gantz announced his resignation from his war cabinet.
In a statement, Netanyahu vowed to continue the war against Gaza’s ruling group, Hamas, despite the departure of centrist leaders.
“My fellow Israelis: we will continue to fight until we are victorious and until all the objectives of the war are achieved, especially the release of all hostages and the elimination of Hamas,” Netanyahu said.
“My door remains open to any Zionist party ready to get under the stretcher and help bring about victory over the enemy and ensure the safety of our people.”
Gantz, a former army commander, has been an increasingly vocal critic of Netanyahu’s government since the war began.He threatened to resign.Three weeks ago, he said he set a June 8 deadline if Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government did not adopt a new plan to end the Gaza war.
Announcing his decision to leave the government on Sunday, Gantz said Netanyahu was “making a complete victory impossible” and that the country must prioritize the return of the hostages “over political survival,” The Associated Press reported.
The announcement came a day after Israeli forces rescued four hostages in the largest operation since the start of the war.
