Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dissolved the six-member war cabinet formed after the Hamas attack on 7 October, Reuters reported on 17 June. The decision follows the resignations of centrist figures Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot, who left the government due to disagreements over the handling of the Gaza conflict.
The war cabinet was originally formed when Gantz and Eisenkot joined Netanyahu’s wartime government in October. In response to the Hamas attack on 7 October, Netanyahu had called for a unity government, prompting Gantz to join the war cabinet on 11 October, making his support a condition for his participation.
Gantz resigned last week over unresolved issues regarding the future of Gaza after the ceasefire, citing the lack of a clear post-war plan. Shortly afterwards, former Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot also announced his resignation.
Following these departures, sensitive decisions will now be handled by a smaller consultative forum, while some matters previously handled by the War Cabinet will be transferred to the broader Security Cabinet. This limited forum is expected to include the remaining War Cabinet members and officials such as Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi and Shas leader Aryeh Deri.
