Israeli minister and war cabinet member Beny Gantz—also Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s chief political rival—resigned from Netanyahu’s government Sunday despite the success of Saturday’s dramatic hostage rescue.
“Leaving the government is a complex and painful decision,” Gantz said in a televised statement.
The decision by Gantz – considered Netanyahu’s main political challenger – fulfils an ultimatum he gave the prime minister last month calling on him to lay out a new plan for the war against Hamas by June 8.
Gantz had been expected to resign on Saturday, but postponed the announcement following news that Israeli forces had rescued four hostages in an operation Gazan officials said left more than 270 Palestinians dead. [Editor’s Note: Gazan health officials routinely lie about the number of casualties.]
Netanyahu had lobbied for Gantz to stay, but to no…
