In a bold move that could shake up Israel’s government, Benny Gantz has issued an ultimatum to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, threatening to leave the coalition if a new plan for the war with Hamas and its aftermath is not agreed upon by June 8.
Gantz, a former general and leader of the centrist National Unity party, joined Netanyahu’s coalition after Hamas’s attack on Israel in October. In a televised statement, Gantz demanded a six-point plan that includes a template for Gaza’s postwar governance. If Netanyahu fails to meet these demands, Gantz will withdraw his party from the government.
Netanyahu’s office accused Gantz of prioritizing an ultimatum to the prime minister over Hamas. The prime minister’s office labeled Gantz’s conditions as “the end of the war and defeat for Israel.”
The potential departure of the National Unity party would not immediately topple Netanyahu’s coalition, but it would mark the end of cross-party cooperation that followed the October attack. Netanyahu would become increasingly reliant on his far-right and ultrareligious allies, who have advocated for a more aggressive approach to the war and the re-establishment of Jewish settlements in Gaza.
Gantz’s ultimatum sets the stage for a critical decision for Netanyahu, with the future of Israel’s government hanging in the balance. The people of Israel are watching closely as the political drama unfolds, with Gantz framing the choice as one between unity and factionalism, victory and disaster. Netanyahu’s critics have accused him of prioritizing his coalition over national priorities, but the prime minister maintains that military victory must come before any postwar planning.