Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is thrown into chaos after key member of his war cabinet threatens to quit – as pressure mounts over Israel’s military bombardment of Gaza

The Israeli government has been thrown into chaos as politicians in Benjamin Netanyahu’s war cabinet threaten to resign.

Pressure continues to mount on the Israeli leader to find a post-war plan for Gaza, even as the war shows no signs of ending.

In the months since the devastating October 7 terrorist attack, Israeli politics have remained remarkably united, but that united front appears to be on the verge of disintegrating.

On Saturday evening, Benny Gantz, a centrist member of Netanyahu’s war cabinet and his main rival for the top position, threatened to quit the government on June 8 if it did not formulate a new war plan.

This includes an international, Arab and Palestinian government to govern Gaza.

On Saturday evening, Benny Gantz, a centrist member of Netanyahu’s war cabinet and his main rival for the top position, threatened to quit the government on June 8 if it did not formulate a new war plan.

Smoke rises after an Israeli attack in northern Gaza. Pressure continues to mount on Netanyahu to find a post-war plan for Gaza, even as the war shows no signs of ending

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant (pictured center) who has also called for a plan for Palestinian rule, saying in a speech this week that he would not agree to Israel ruling Gaza itself

The National Unity Party leader said: “If you choose the path of the fanatics and lead the entire nation to the abyss, we will be forced to leave the government.”

Gantz was accompanied by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who has also called for a plan for Palestinian rule, saying in a speech this week that he would not agree to Israel ruling Gaza itself.

Netanyahu has ruled out any role for the Palestinian Authority in Gaza, claiming instead that he wants to hand power to local Palestinians.

The prime minister has also ruled out such plans until Hamas is defeated, saying it has threatened anyone who works with Israel. He also remains deeply opposed to the Palestinian state.

In a statement issued after the ultimatum, Netanyahu said Gantz’s terms would amount to “a defeat for Israel, abandoning most of the hostages, leaving Hamas intact and establishing a Palestinian state.”

However, Netanyahu added that he still thought the emergency government was important for prosecuting the war, and that he “expects Gantz to clarify his positions to the public.”

It is not surprising that Netanyahu hopes that Gantz can remain in the coalition, as his departure would make Netanyahu even more dependent on his far-right coalition allies.

This includes National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who could more easily topple the government if he does not meet their demands.

Netanyahu has ruled out any role for the Palestinian Authority in Gaza, instead claiming he wants to hand power to local Palestinians

Gantz hugs a woman as he walks toward the hostages’ relatives. Gantz said: ‘If you choose the path of fanatics and lead the entire nation to the abyss, we will be forced to leave the government’

If Gantz withdraws from the government, Netanyahu would be dependent on his far-right coalition allies. This includes the Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir (pictured), who could more easily topple the government if he does not meet their demands

Protesters in Tel Aviv Saturday evening. Critics of Netanyahu, including thousands who have joined weekly protests in recent months, accuse him of prolonging the war for his own political survival.

Ben-Gvir and others have called on Israel to reoccupy Gaza, encourage the “voluntary emigration” of Palestinians from the area and restore Jewish settlements that were removed in 2005.

Critics of Netanyahu, including thousands who have joined weekly protests in recent months, accuse him of prolonging the war for his own political survival.

Gantz, who brought his centrist party into government just days after the October 7 attack that sparked the war, warned Netanyahu not to “choose the path of fanatics and lead the entire nation to the abyss.”

The US has joined Gantz in pushing for a plan to end the war that would include Gaza being ruled by Palestinian and Arab states such as Saudi Arabia.

The times reports that the Americans are also calling for full recognition of Israel by Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries.

Israeli media have reported growing discontent within the country’s security establishment over the course of the war, with officials warning that the lack of such planning turned tactical victories into strategic defeat.

With no one else to govern Gaza, Hamas has repeatedly regrouped, even in the hardest-hit areas that Israel previously said it had evacuated.

In a statement issued after the ultimatum, Netanyahu said Gantz’s terms would amount to a “defeat for Israel, abandoning most of the hostages, leaving Hamas intact and establishing a Palestinian state.”

Israeli forces are meanwhile pushing into parts of the southern city of Rafah in what they say is a limited operation.

The fighting there has displaced around 800,000 people, many of whom had already fled from other areas, and severely hampered the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Indirect talks, brokered by the United States, Qatar and Egypt, aimed at a ceasefire and the release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas, meanwhile, appear to have stalled, with many families of the hostages and their supporters blaming the Israeli government.

Tragically, in recent days the bodies of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas on October 7 have been found in Gaza. On May 17, the body of Shani Louk, who was at the Nova music festival, was discovered along with two other hostages.

Yesterday it was reported that Ron Benjamin’s body had also been found.