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World
Israel faces political turmoil over war in Gaza: Live updates
3:46 a.m. ET, June 8, 2024
Benny Gantz will speak later today, as he reaches deadline for threatened withdrawal from Israeli government
Amir Levy/Getty Images
Gantz will hold a news conference today at 8:40 p.m. local time (1:40 p.m. ET) in the city of Ramat Gan, his office confirms.
How we got here: Last month, Gantz said he would resign, along with his National Unity Party, from the government if Netanyahu did not devise a plan to bring back hostages held in Gaza and present a day-after strategy for the war-torn enclave by June 8. His other demands included the elimination of Hamas and the return of Israeli residents to the north of Israel.
Netanyahu’s office rejected Gantz’s demands, saying the ultimatum would only hurt Israel.
Why it matters: Gantz’s withdrawal from the emergency government would not collapse Netanyahu’s majority in the Knesset, but would risk further isolation for the embattled premier on an international stage.
This comes at a time of daily mass protests in Israel, with many demonstrators calling for immediate elections and the hostages’ release, and some wanting an end to further humanitarian aid being allowed into Gaza.
Gantz is considered Netanyahu’s main political challenger and often surpasses him in approval polls.
Biden laid out the three-phase proposal last week, saying it was submitted by the Israeli government. But Netanyahu has since said Israel won’t stop fighting until Hamas is destroyed.
CNN’s Nadeen Ebrahim contributed reporting to this post.