Netanyahu dissolves War Cabinet amid pressure for ceasefire

The Prime Minister of Israel dissolved this Monday (17) the War Cabinet created to provide political stability in military decisions against the Gaza Strip.

The dissolution of the body comes after the resignation of former general Benny Gantz and pressure from the far-right wing of the coalition that supports Netanyahu in power.

Initially, the cabinet was made up of Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, from the same party as the prime minister, Likud, and Gantz, former commander of the Israeli Armed Forces and main opponent of the far-right coalition that governs the Jewish state.

In addition to the three main members, three other observers of the collegiate without voting rights were appointed. Of the three, retired general Gadi Eisenknot resigned at the same time as Gantz.

The formation of the war cabinet with Gantz and Eisenknot was an attempt to demonstrate unity in the country after the Hamas attacks on October 7, as the former general and Netanyahu contested the last election on opposite sides.

Netanyahu is now expected to hold consultations on the Gaza war with a small group of ministers, including Gallant and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer. Both were part of the war cabinet.

Netanyahu had been facing great pressure from the far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties in his coalition. Ministers such as Bezalel Smotrich, of Finance, and Itamar Ben-Gvir, of National Security, demanded the vacant seats in the War Cabinet.

If Netanyahu accepted, the move would have intensified tensions with international partners, including the United States.

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