Israeli minister could leave government today

(Patria) - Member of the Israeli war cabinet Benny Gantz said on Friday that he will hold a press conference on Saturday, and Israeli media report that he will likely announce his departure from the government.

Gantz said last month that he would resign from the war cabinet if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not approve a post-war plan for the Gaza Strip by June 8, AFP reported.

Gantz's office said he would make a statement to the media on Saturday from a Tel Aviv suburb. His centrist National Union submitted a bill last week to dissolve the Knesset, Israel's parliament, and hold early elections. Gantz is considered the favorite to form a coalition in the event Netanyahu's government is brought down and early elections are called.

Netanyahu is under pressure from far-right coalition partners, who have threatened to leave the government if he proceeds with a hostage release deal outlined by US President Joe Biden. Gantz said this week that the return of hostages from Gaza is a "priority".

The war was triggered by Hamas's October 7 attack, which resulted in the deaths of 1,194 people, mostly civilians, and 251 hostages were taken, of whom 120 remain in Gaza, including 41 whom the army says are dead. Israel's offensive has killed 36,731 people in Gaza, mostly children and women.