Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has disbanded the country's war cabinet following opposition leader Benny Gantz's withdrawal from the body last week. Gantz cited Netanyahu's failure to devise a strategy for the war in Gaza and the future governance of the Strip as reasons for his departure.
The war cabinet was formed five days after the beginning of the conflict between Israel and Hamas on October 7. In addition to Netanyahu and Gantz, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and other politicians such as Gadi Eisenkot and Ron Dermer participated as observers.
Gantz, in a televised address, expressed his frustration with Netanyahu, accusing him of prioritizing personal political considerations over developing a post-war strategy for Gaza. He called for Netanyahu to set an agreed election date to prevent further division among the people.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from the far-right members of Netanyahu's coalition have urged to join the war cabinet, adding to the political tensions within the government.
Netanyahu's decision to disband the war cabinet comes amidst growing pressure and criticism from various political factions. Gantz's departure has highlighted the challenges facing the Israeli government in navigating the complexities of the conflict in Gaza and the need for a cohesive strategy moving forward.
The future governance of the Gaza Strip remains a key issue, with calls for decisive action and strategic planning to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region. Netanyahu's next steps and the impact of these political developments on the ongoing conflict will be closely watched both domestically and internationally.
