A spokesperson for the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office confirmed Monday the dissolution of the war cabinet, created after the unprecedented October 7 attack by Hamas in Israel, following the resignation last week of centrist Benny Gantz. Israeli media reported earlier Monday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the dissolution of the core group during a security cabinet meeting on Sunday.
David Mencer, a spokesperson for Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, confirmed the dissolution of the war cabinet, specifying that the security cabinet would make “decisions on matters relating to the war.” “The war cabinet was a prerequisite for the creation of this government of national unity (…) With the departure of Mr. Gantz from the government, the cabinet is no longer necessary, its functions will be taken over by the cabinet of security,” David Mencer said during a press briefing.
Security cabinet now makes decisions on war with Hamas
The security cabinet, which includes nine ministers in addition to Benjamin Netanyahu, is now the main body making decisions regarding the war with Hamas. Benny Gantz, leader of the National Union party (center), left the government coalition earlier in June, taking with him Gadi Eisenkot, who like him is a former army chief. According to commentators, this dissolution is also intended to pull the rug out from under the far-right ministers Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich who wanted to participate in the war cabinet since the start of the conflict.
>> IN BRIEF – The war broke out on October 7 when Hamas terrorists infiltrated from Gaza into southern Israel carried out an attack which resulted in the deaths of 1,194 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP count established from official Israeli data. Of 251 people kidnapped, 116 are still held hostage in Gaza, of whom 41 are dead, according to the army.
In retaliation, the Israeli army launched a vast offensive on the Gaza Strip which has so far left 37,347 dead, mostly civilians, according to data from the Ministry of Health of the Gaza government, led by the Islamist movement.