On Monday, Israel’s war cabinet was abolished, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces calls to resign over his handling of the war with Hamas, as well as ongoing corruption investigations.
The cabinet was established in response to Hamas’ 7 October attack.
Two moderate politicians quit the war cabinet last week, meaning Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition government will have more decision-making power over Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.
Thousands of protesters have gathered across Israel demanding an election. Here’s the latest.
Background
On 7 October, Hamas launched an attack on Israel. According to data cited by the UN, roughly 1,200 people were killed.
Hamas, which Australia lists as a terrorist organisation, captured about 240 hostages. Approximately 120 are still in Gaza.
Israel responded by declaring war and bombarding Gaza. According to data cited by the UN, more than 37,200 Palestinians have been killed since 7 October. Israel’s war in Gaza has caused a humanitarian crisis.
War cabinet
Shortly after the 7 October attack, Israel declared war on Hamas, and the Government set up its “war cabinet”.
The cabinet was a small decision-making group of senior government ministers and officials.
It made major decisions about how Israel conducts itself during the war, including orders for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
The cabinet was made up of politicians from across all major Israeli parties, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and centrist politician Benny Gantz.
Three “observer” members sat in the war cabinet but did not have the power to override decisions.
Gantz is a key opposition figure in Israel’s Parliament, the Knesset.
He’s a former military chief and defence minister, and is widely considered more moderate than Netanyahu’s far-right government.
Dissolution
Last week Gantz and ally Gadi Eisenkot quit the war cabinet.
In a press conference, Gantz criticised Netanyahu’s handling of the war in Gaza, saying it was resulting in a “painful and ongoing price” for Israel.
Gantz had previously said he would quit if Netanyahu did not agree to the terms of a U.S-led ceasefire deal, urging the PM to reject “fanatics” in his government to avoid leading Israel “to the abyss.”
What now?
Government spokesperson David Mencer stated there was “no longer a need for the war cabinet” after Gantz’s resignation.
Mencer confirmed major decisions regarding the war in Gaza would instead be made by an Israeli “security cabinet“ — a broader committee of senior Government figures, including the foreign affairs minister, and justice minister, and two far-right members of Netanyahu’s Coalition.
Protests
Thousands of protesters in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv have called for Benjamin Netanyahu to resign as Prime Minister and hold an election, in the wake of the dissolution of the war cabinet.
Israeli police used water cannons to disperse the crowds and arrested at least nine people in Jerusalem.
Two major opinion polls (one from Ma’ariv, a left-wing Israeli newspaper, and one from Israel Hayom, a right-wing Israeli newspaper) last week showed, if an election was held tomorrow, Benny Gantz is the preferred PM.
