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Rabat – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dissolved Israel’s six-member war cabinet following the resignation of centrist minister Benny Gantz from the emergency government. This decision comes in the wake of internal political pressures over the handling of the ongoing war on Gaza.
Netanyahu announced the dissolution at a political security cabinet meeting on Sunday evening. The war cabinet was initially established at Gantz’s request as part of a coalition agreement after Israel declared war on Gaza in response to the Hamas October 7 attack.
The cabinet included Netanyahu, Gantz, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, former Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot, and Shas party leader Aryeh Deri.
The resignation of Gantz, who criticized the government for lacking a post-war plan for Gaza, has left Netanyahu’s far-right coalition without a centrist balance. Gantz has called for new elections, arguing that the current government has failed to achieve a “true victory” in Gaza and has not secured a deal with Hamas for the release of captives.
Netanyahu faces increasing pressure from his hardline coalition partners, particularly Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Both have demanded the formation of a new war cabinet inclusive of coalition party leaders, pushing for the continuation of the Gaza bombardment despite international calls for restraint.
However, Netanyahu has reportedly rejected these demands. According to The Jerusalem Post, he stated, “The cabinet was in the coalition agreement with Gantz, at his request. As soon as Gantz left – there is no need for a cabinet any more.” Instead, Netanyahu plans to consult with a smaller group of ministers, including Gallant and Dermer, potentially excluding Smotrich and Ben-Gvir from key security discussions.
The dissolution of the war cabinet and potential exclusion of hardline ministers could strain Israel’s relations with international allies, particularly the United States, which has advocated for restraint and increased aid to Gaza. Despite these pressures, Netanyahu has shown no indication of scaling back its constant attacks on Gaza, targeting civilians.
