Asking Minister Gantz To Change His Mind, PM Netanyahu: It's Not Time To Leave Campaign

PM Netanyahu chaired the meeting of the Israeli War Cabinet which was attended by Benny Gantz. (Source: GPO/Kobi Gideon)

JAKARTA - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday asked Benny Gantz to change his mind and return to the emergency cabinet.

"Benny, it's not time to leave the campaign - it's time to join," PM Netanyahu told Minister Gantz in a post on X.

"Israeli, we will continue to fight until victory and all war goals are achieved, the most important thing is the release of all of our hostages and the removal of Hamas," Prime Minister Netanyahu continued.

Prime Minister Netanyahu added that the door remains open to any political party that is ready to share the burden in the fight against Hamas, and will help bring victory over our enemies and ensure the safety of our citizens.

As previously reported, Israeli Minister Benny Gantz announced his resignation from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Emergency Administration on Sunday, highlighting promises he made related to strategies in the Gaza Strip.

Gantz said on Sunday, politics obscured a decisive strategic decision in PM Netanyahu's cabinet. Resigning while the hostages were still in Gaza and the soldiers who fought there were very painful decisions, he said.

"Netanyahu prevents us from advancing towards true victory," Gantz told a televised news conference.

"That's why we left the emergency government today, with a heavy heart but with full confidence."

Last month, Gantz gave PM Netanyahu a June 8 deadline to make a clear strategy for Gaza, where Israel has launched a devastating military offensive against the ruling Palestinian militant group, Hamas. PM Netanyahu dismissed the ultimatum immediately after being granted.

Gantz himself called on PM Netanyahu to hold elections in the coming months, after he announced his resignation.

"We need to hold elections which in the end will form a government that will gain people's trust and be able to face challenges," Gantz said in his televised announcement.

"I call on Netanyahu: set an agreed election date. Don't let our people be divided," he added.

Gantz said he left the cabinet of war because "the situation in this country and in the decision-making space has changed."