First member of Netanyahu govt challenges his rule, Gantz calls for elections

It appears that not just most Israelis, but members of the Benjamin Netanyahu-led government’s war Cabinet member and his main rival, Benny Gantz, also want him Israel Prime Minister to step down. Gantz has called for snap parliamentary elections in September as pressure mounts at home and abroad over the war in Gaza.

It is for the first time Gantz, a former general and the leader of the National Unity party, has made such a call since joining the Israeli government on an emergency basis after the October 7 attack by Hamas terrorists.

Israel needs elections to ‘renew trust’

Gantz has cited the need to “maintain unity” and “renew trust” in the government whose military is invading Palestine and fighting Hamas terrorists who crossed into Israel on October 7 and killed more than 1,200 people and took over 250 hostages.

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People of Israel “must know that we will soon return to ask for their trust, that we won’t ignore the disaster of October 7 and what preceded it," Gantz, the leader of the National Unity party which leads Netanyahu’s Likud in the polls, said.

Why Gantz wants Israel elections in September?

In a televised briefing, Gantz said elections in Israel should be held in September, approaching the first anniversary of the start of the war against Hamas in Gaza.

“We must agree on a date for elections in September, about a year from the war,” he said.

“Setting such a date will allow us to continue the military effort while signaling to the citizens of Israel that we will soon renew their trust in us," he added.

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Elections will ‘prevent a rift in the nation’

As per Israel’s Central Elections Committee, the next election for parliament should take place on October 27, 2026. However, Gantz, who wants to advance the polls, said early elections would “leave us time to continue the security effort and also allow the citizens of Israel to know that we will soon renew the trust between us”.

This would “prevent a rift in the nation,” he added.

Gantz also suggested that early elections would provide Israel with international legitimacy.

Israel’s war Cabinet member went on to say that he has discussed the matter with Netanyahu in recent weeks and plans to continue to do so.

The intervention from Gantz came as Israel faced massive international criticism over the deaths of seven employees of the World Central Kitchen (WKC) in Gaza on Monday during a drone attack carried out by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

US President Joe Biden said he was “outraged and heartbroken” by the killings and said Israel had “not done enough” to protect aid workers and civilians in the enclave.

Also, thousands of Israelis, on Saturday, took to the streets demanding new elections and removal of Netanyahu. Many have criticised the Israeli Prime Minister and expressed anger at his government’s handling of the 134 Israeli hostages still held in Gaza six months into the war.

But is Netanyahu ready?

Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, has repeatedly ruled out early elections, saying that going to the polls in the middle of a war would only reward Hamas.

Likud party reacts to Gantz’s comments

Netanyahu’s Likud party reacted to Gantz’s call for early polls, saying: “At such a fateful moment for the state of Israel and in the midst of war, Benny Gantz must stop engaging in petty politics just because his party is disintegrating.”

“Elections now would inevitably lead to paralysis and division, affect the battle for Rafah and fatally damage the chances of a hostage deal. The government will continue until it has achieved all the goals of the war,” the party added.

What early elections in Israel will mean for Netanyahu?

Gantz had joined Netanyahu’s government in the early days of the Gaza war as a gesture of political unity during the crisis.

However, recent polls and surveys indicate that most Israelis disapprove of Netanyahu’s leadership since the Hamas attack on October 7.

Latest polls suggest, in the event of early elections, Gantz would be well ahead of Netanyahu, whose popularity has been gradually declining since the October 7 attack.

Polls also suggest Gantz’s party would come top in any election and he would be favourite to take over as premier.

Also, early elections would require the agreement of 61 elected officials, or the majority of deputies in the Knesset, where Likud has the most seats but does not have a majority.

With inputs from agencies