Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dissolved the war cabinet established in response to the Hamas-led assault on Israel, an Israeli official announced on Monday. This decision follows the resignations of two prominent members, Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot, who left the cabinet last week due to strategic disagreements over the war in Gaza.
The war cabinet was formed in October 2023 as a response to heightened hostilities between Israel and Hamas. It initially comprised five members, including former military chiefs Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot, who were considered moderating influences within the group. The remaining members were Netanyahu himself, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Ron Dermer, a close confidant of Netanyahu.
The departures of Gantz and Eisenkot were driven by differing views on how to conduct the war in Gaza, leading to significant internal conflicts. Their resignations signaled a shift in the cabinetâs dynamics, reducing the representation of moderate perspectives.
Following their exit, Prime Minister Netanyahu has been steering war discussions in collaboration with Defense Minister Gallant and a team of close advisers. The disbandment of the war cabinet, communicated during a broader cabinet meeting on Sunday, formalizes this new structure of decision-making.
The dissolution of the war cabinet is largely symbolic, as key decisions regarding the war in Gaza will continue to be made by Netanyahu in consultation with his defense team. This move also precludes the need to appoint replacements from Netanyahuâs far-right coalition partners, who had strong views on continuing the military offensive until Hamas is completely neutralized.
Despite the dissolution, significant war-related decisions will still be reviewed by Israelâs broader security cabinet. This includes influential figures like Itamar Ben-Gvir, the Minister for National Security, and Bezalel Smotrich, the Finance Minister, both of whom advocate for an extended military campaign against Hamas.
The official, who provided this information on the condition of anonymity, indicated that the broader security cabinet will continue to play a vital role in shaping Israelâs military strategy and responses in Gaza.
The disbanding of the war cabinet marks a notable shift in Israelâs internal war strategy management, consolidating decision-making power more directly under Prime Minister Netanyahu and his immediate defense team. The broader security cabinet, which includes representatives with diverse and often more extreme viewpoints, will remain integral to ongoing discussions and strategic decisions regarding the conflict in Gaza.
