The Minister in the Israeli War Council, Benny Gantz, announced on Sunday evening his resignation from the emergency government headed by Benjamin Netanyahu.

This step is part of the repercussions of the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza, since October 7th. This left more than 121,000 Palestinians dead and wounded, and about 10,000 missing, amid massive destruction and deadly famine.

Gantz, the most prominent candidate to form the next government, said during a press conference: “With a heavy heart, I officially announce my withdrawal from the emergency government.”

Gantz's National Unity party joined Netanyahu's government following the outbreak of war, and it became called the emergency government, and as a result, a government or mini-war council was formed.

The withdrawal of Gantz, head of the “State Camp” coalition (12 deputies), does not mean the dismantling of the government, as when he joined it, Netanyahu was already supported by 64 deputies out of 120 in the Knesset, which allows his government to continue as long as it enjoys the confidence of at least 61 deputies.

Gantz added: “Netanyahu is preventing us from moving towards a real victory (in Gaza). An agreed-upon date must be set for the (early) elections.”

The opposition accuses Netanyahu of following policies that serve his personal political interests, and failing to achieve the declared goals of the war, especially eliminating Hamas and returning Israeli prisoners from Gaza.

Netanyahu is committed to continuing in his position, and has rejected mounting calls for months to hold early elections, claiming that they would “paralyze the state” and freeze prisoner exchange negotiations for a period that may reach 8 months.

Gantz added: “I apologize to the families of the detainees (prisoners in Gaza). We have failed the test, and the responsibility also falls on me.”

Tel Aviv estimates that there are 120 Israeli prisoners in Gaza, while Hamas announced that more than 70 of them were killed in random raids launched by Israel, which holds at least 9,500 Palestinians in its prisons.

Gantz continued: “Netanyahu made decisions based on (personal) political considerations, and obstructed achieving a real victory, so we are leaving the government.”

He added: “Our departure from the government in light of the failure to return all the detainees is a complicated matter.”

Regarding the deal proposal announced by US President Joe Biden, Gantz said: “I support the deal proposed by Biden, but Netanyahu did not have the courage to make it successful.”

At the end of last May, Biden spoke about Israel submitting a three-stage proposal that includes a ceasefire in Gaza, a prisoner exchange, and the reconstruction of the Strip.

In that month, Hamas and the rest of the factions announced their approval of an Egyptian-Qatari proposal for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange, but Israel rejected it. Claiming that he does not meet its conditions.

The Palestinian factions accuse Israel and the United States of not really wanting to end the war, and of seeking through negotiations to buy time, hoping that Netanyahu will achieve gains.

Gantz called on Defense Minister Gallant to resign, saying: “You are a national hero, and you must make the right decision and resign from the government.”

Gallant is a candidate to replace Netanyahu in the leadership of the Likud Party (right).

Gantz continued: “After October 7, we entered the government, knowing that we have a bad government. We entered the government because we know that it is a bad government.”

On May 19, Gantz gave Netanyahu until June 8 to develop a clear strategy for the war on Gaza and beyond, otherwise he would resign from the government, which did not happen.