Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz quits Netanyahu's emergency government

Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz has quit Benjamin Netanyahu’s emergency government, saying the prime minister was making "total victory impossible."

In announcing his resignation Sunday, Gantz said the government needs to put the return of the hostages seized Oct. 7 by Hamas "above political survival."

"Months after the October disaster, the situation in the country and in the decision-making cabinet has changed. Netanyahu and his partners have turned unity into a void call who has no cover. Fateful strategic decisions are met with hesitancy and procrastination due to political considerations," Gantz said. "Netanyahu is preventing us from progressing to a real victory. That is why we are leaving the emergency government today with a heavy heart, but with a whole heart."

Months after the October disaster, the situation in the country and in the decision-making cabinet has changed. Netanyahu and his partners have turned unity into a void call who has no cover. Fateful strategic decisions are met with hesitancy and procrastination due to political considerations."

A centrist member of Israel's three-man war Cabinet and former military chief, Gantz joined Netanyahu's government shortly after the Hamas attack in a show of unity. His presence also boosted Israel's credibility with its international partners because of Gantz’s good working relations with U.S. officials.

BBC ANCHOR ASKS IF ISRAELI FORCES WARNED PALESTINIANS AHEAD OF HOSTAGE RESCUE MISSION: DEFEATS ‘THE PURPOSE’

For now, the move will have no immediate impact on Netanyahu, who still controls a majority in parliament.

"This is the time for unity and not for division," Netanyahu wrote on X. "We must remain united within ourselves in the face of the great tasks