In a firm statement, Israeli war council member Benny Gantz demanded that the war government approve a six-point plan for the Gaza conflict by June 8. During his address on Saturday evening, Gantz gave Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government a deadline until June 8 to establish a clear war strategy. He stated, "There is a need for change now, and we will not allow this charade to continue." Gantz added, "Netanyahu is steering the ship toward the abyss... The Prime Minister must choose between division and unity, between victory and disaster."
Gantz's proposed six-point plan for the Gaza conflict includes:
- Retrieving Israeli captives held by Hamas.
- Eliminating Hamas governance.
- Disarming Gaza and ensuring a military presence of Israel.
- Establishing a civilian American-European-Palestinian administration in the sector to ensure a successful governing authority in Gaza and to repatriate citizens in the north.
- Normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia through a large-scale step toward establishing relations with the Arab world.
- Enrolling students from religious institutes in Israel to ensure the strength of the army.
Gantz threatened to withdraw his party from the coalition government if Netanyahu did not meet his demands. He directed his remarks at Netanyahu: "If you do not prioritize national interest and prefer extremists, we will have to resign and establish a government that enjoys the support of the people."
### Reactions to Gantz's Speech
Gantz's speech sparked a wave of reactions within Israeli society, as Benjamin Netanyahu rejected Gantz's deadline and affirmed his absolute opposition to the creation of a Palestinian state as part of the normalization deal with Saudi Arabia. The Israeli Prime Minister noted, "Benny Gantz chose to threaten the Prime Minister instead of Hamas."
Netanyahu stated, "Gantz chose to set his conditions while our army is fighting Hamas in Gaza." He added, "I reject the deadline Gantz proposed, and I reaffirm my absolute opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state as part of the normalization deal with Saudi Arabia." He continued, "The conditions Gantz put forth are mere wordplay, and their meaning is clear: the end of the war, Israel's defeat, neglect of most abductees, and allowing Hamas to remain in power while establishing a Palestinian state."
Netanyahu remarked, "Our brave soldiers did not fall in vain, and they certainly did not fall to replace Hamasstan with Fatahstan." He challenged Gantz to answer three questions: Is he ready to complete the military operation in Rafah to eliminate Hamas brigades, and if his answer is yes, how can he threaten to bring down the government in the midst of military operations? Does he oppose civil rule in Gaza even without President Mahmoud Abbas? Does he accept a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza as part of the normalization process with Saudi Arabia?
Netanyahu emphasized that his position on these vital issues is very clear, asserting, "The Prime Minister is determined to eliminate Hamas brigades and opposes introducing the Palestinian Authority into Gaza and the establishment of a Palestinian state, which will certainly be a terrorist state." He underscored the importance of the emergency government to accomplish all war objectives, including the recovery of the abductees, and urged Gantz to clarify his stance on these issues to the public.
Gantz also faced a fierce attack from far-right Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir, who deemed Gantz "a small leader and a great deceiver," asserting that since his initial inclusion in the government, he had primarily focused on dismantling it, and his trips to Washington were merely a small part of his schemes.
Ben Gvir continued, "Whoever proposed enlistment for the ultra-Orthodox in exchange for the government's dissolution and chants about responsibility is a liar and a hypocrite."
For his part, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid commented: "I say to Gantz and Eizenkot enough, get out of the war council, and enough with the press conferences. If you were not sitting in the government, we would have already moved past the Netanyahu and Ben Gvir era."
In contrast, the Forum of Families of the Captives stated that the time for talking has ended and time is running out for the captives, and negotiations must be renewed.
