Following the resignation of centrist leader Benny Gantz earlier this month, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dissolved the war cabinet, according to a spokeswoman for the Israeli government on Monday.
A spokeswoman for the prime minister’s office, David Mencer, informed reporters that former army chief and defense minister Gantz’s participation in a unity government was “prerequisite” for the war cabinet.
“So with Mr Gantz leaving government, there is no need for the cabinet. Its duties will be taken over by the security cabinet”, a pre-existing body, on matters regarding the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, he said.
According to Israeli media, the move was made in response to pressure from far-right politicians who wanted more influence over policy decisions, but it was not anticipated to result in any significant policy changes.
Following Hamas’s historic attack on Israel on October 7, Gantz abandoned the opposition to join Netanyahu’s government, and the war cabinet was subsequently constituted.
Israeli officials said that Gadi Eisenkot, a former military leader and fellow member of Gantz’s party, had also consented to join the administration if a war cabinet was constituted.
Eisenkot left the war cabinet along with Gantz.
“It means that the security cabinet will meet more often. The security cabinet is the body responsible for making decisions (related to the war) anyway,” said an Israeli official on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the issue.
The security cabinet, which approves war-related decisions including truce and hostage-release agreements, is composed of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi, and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer.
On June 9, Gantz submitted his resignation, citing his inability to persuade Netanyahu to accept a post-conflict strategy for Gaza.
According to Israeli media, Netanyahu dissolved the war cabinet out of concern for the reputation of Western allies like the United States and to avoid involving members of the far-right coalition in the delicate matter.
When asked if Netanyahu’s move was intended to tighten his hold on power and stifle his far-right allies, Mencer did not respond.
Netanyahu had been under pressure to include National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in the war cabinet since they are both members of the security cabinet and reject a ceasefire before Hamas is “eliminated”.
1,194 individuals died as a result of the Hamas onslaught on southern Israel that started the war, the majority of them were civilians, according to an AFP count based on official Israeli numbers.
According to the health ministry in the Hamas-run enclave, Israel’s retaliatory military operation in Gaza has killed at least 37,347 individuals, the majority of them were civilians.
