Following the departure of centrist former general Benny Gantz from the government, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dissolved the six-member war cabinet, an Israeli official announced on Monday.
Netanyahu is now set to hold consultations on the Gaza war with a reduced group of ministers, including Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, who were previously part of the war cabinet.
Prime Minister Netanyahu faced pressure from his nationalist-religious coalition partners, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, to include them in the war cabinet.
This move would have likely strained relationships with international partners, including the United States.
The war cabinet was established in October when Gantz joined Netanyahu’s national unity government.
Other members included Gadi Eisenkot and Aryeh Deri, leader of the Shas religious party, who served as observers.
Last week, both Gantz and Eisenkot left the government, citing Netanyahu’s failure to formulate a strategy for the Gaza war as their reason.
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