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Gantz Quits Emergency Government, Accuses PM of Botching War Effort
Benny Gantz, a member of Israel's wartime cabinet, has resigned, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of mishandling the country's war effort.
Gantz announced his resignation on June 9th, saying that Netanyahu was preventing Israel from achieving "true victory" in the ongoing conflict with Hamas.
"The Prime Minister is not interested in ending the war, only in keeping it going for his own political gain," Gantz said. "He is sacrificing the lives of our soldiers and civilians to appease his radical right-wing base."
Gantz's resignation is a major blow to Netanyahu's government. It is the first time that a member of the wartime cabinet has quit in protest of the war.
The resignation comes at a time when Netanyahu is facing growing pressure from within his own party to end the war. Several members of the Likud party have expressed support for Gantz's call for a ceasefire.
It is unclear what Gantz's resignation will mean for the future of the Netanyahu government. It is possible that other members of the cabinet will follow Gantz's lead and resign, which could lead to the collapse of the government.
It is also possible that Netanyahu will be forced to change his approach to the war in order to appease his critics. He may be forced to agree to a ceasefire or to scale back the military operation.
The war in Gaza has been going on for over two weeks and has claimed the lives of over 200 Palestinians and 10 Israelis. The fighting has also caused widespread destruction in Gaza.
The international community has called for a ceasefire, but Netanyahu has so far refused to agree to one. He has said that the war will continue until Hamas stops firing rockets into Israel.
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