Israel PM requests war Cabinet minister Benny Gantz not to quit following ultimatum

Israeli PM Netanyahu urges war Cabinet minister Gantz not to resign over Gaza strategy, as hostages are rescued from Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged war Cabinet minister Benny Gantz not to resign on June 8, following threats to quit due to the lack of a post-war strategy for the Gaza Strip.

In May, Gantz had announced his intention to resign from the emergency body if Netanyahu did not approve a plan for Gaza by June 8. Netanyahu took to social media to appeal to Gantz to stay in the emergency government and maintain unity.

Gantz canceled a scheduled news conference on June 8 after the Israeli military successfully rescued four hostages from Gaza earlier in the day. While not directly addressing rumors of his resignation, Gantz emphasized the ongoing challenges facing Israel despite the recent hostage rescue.

The National Union Party, led by Gantz, had submitted a bill to dissolve the Knesset and call for early elections. Gantz, a potential coalition leader in the event of Netanyahu's government falling, had stressed the importance of rescuing hostages from Gaza.

The four hostages rescued from Gaza were identified as Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, and Shlomi Ziv. They had been kidnapped by Hamas militants during the Nova music festival in October. The hostages were in good medical condition after being rescued and taken to a hospital.

The attack in October resulted in the deaths of 1,194 people in Israel, mostly civilians. In retaliation, Israel's bombardments and ground offensive on Gaza led to the deaths of 36,801 people, mostly civilians. The ongoing situation highlights the complexities and challenges faced by both Israel and Gaza.

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