After members of the Israeli War Council, Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot, threatened to withdraw and gave Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a deadline until June 6 to approve post-war plans for the Gaza Strip, Netanyahu began to consider his options. Israeli sources reported that the Prime Minister intends to dissolve the War Council to avoid having to include the two extremist-right ministers, Itamar Ben Gvir and Betzalel Smotrich.
If Gantz and Eisenkot withdraw, Netanyahu would be obliged to appoint two other ministers from the extended government to replace them at a time when Ben Gvir and Smotrich are demanding to join the council. The inclusion of Gantz and Eisenkot in the war government allowed Netanyahu to make tactical and even strategic decisions free from the political pressures of right-wing members in his coalition, according to the same sources.
This comes as tensions escalate between Netanyahu and his Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, especially since they have not spoken for about two weeks after Gallant criticized Netanyahu at a press conference, attacking his plans for a permanent Israeli presence in Gaza. Moreover, Netanyahu has accused Gallant of leaking details of sensitive security meetings. The Prime Minister previously stated in a government meeting, "Every time I sit down for limited meetings with the Minister of Defense, and the heads of Mossad and Shin Bet, everything gets leaked." He added, "I know it is not the head of Mossad or the head of Shin Bet, so who could it be?"
Notably, Gallant had called for Netanyahu to make a decision regarding the "next day" in Gaza two weeks ago, considering that failing to address this issue puts Israel at risk. Meanwhile, the Israeli Prime Minister confirmed the day after Gallant's criticism that he would speak to his Defense Minister, but that has yet to happen. Netanyahu is facing severe criticism both domestically and internationally for not clarifying a timeline for the end of the war after more than seven months since its outbreak following Hamas's surprise attack on Israeli settlements and military bases near Gaza.
