A prominent member of Israel's war cabinet, Benny Gantz, has threatened to quit if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doesn't outline a post-war plan for Gaza by early next month. There's also pressure from protesters who are calling on the government to do more to secure the release of captives.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

The U.S-brokered ceasefire deal in Gaza is holding, after Hamas released the remaining Israeli hostages.

Middle East Conflict

A prominent member of Israel's war cabinet, Benny Gantz, has threatened to resign if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does not outline a post-war plan for Gaza. Gantz's demand includes adopting a six-point plan for the war in Gaza within weeks to ensure Israeli security and facilitate the release of hostages. This move adds to pressures Netanyahu faces from various quarters, including cabinet members and protesters.

Recent demonstrations in Tel Aviv have seen thousands of people calling for Netanyahu's resignation and pressing the government to secure the release of captives held by Hamas in Gaza. The protests intensified after Israeli forces recovered the body of another captive, Ron Benyamin. Currently, 128 abductees remain held in Gaza, prompting urgent calls for action.

The Israeli army has released a video showing combat operations in eastern Rafah, projecting strength and determination to recover the hostages. Meanwhile, internal divisions within Netanyahu's government are becoming increasingly evident, with Defense Minister Yoav Galant urging clarity on post-war plans and other cabinet members openly criticizing Netanyahu.

Netanyahu faces significant pressure from far-right coalition members, such as National Security Minister Itmar Ben-Gavir and Finance Minister Betzel El-Smotrich, who threaten to collapse the government if a more aggressive stance is not taken. The political discourse in Israel is marked by a mixture of protest and policy debates as the situation in Gaza unfolds.



Key ally of Netanyahu threatens to quit over Gaza

On Saturday in Tel Aviv, demonstrators once again came out by the thousands. Many demanding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resign, others urging him to do whatever is needed to bring their loved ones home. We are here not only this evening, but seven months, first of all to make a pressure on our government, for me it's a bloody government, to get back all the hostages, to make immediate deal with Hamas or who, whatever, and to bring back the hostages. The second target is to remove Bibi and his government, to make election, new election, a new government, and to go to a new way, to fix our country. At one point, authorities using a water cannon to disperse anti-government protesters. Anger and angst in equal measure, all in the wake of news that the Israeli forces operating in Gaza had recovered the body of another captive, Ron Benyamin. There are 128 abductees still being held in Gaza. Israeli soldiers and Shin Bet fighters continue to fight with the determination to create the conditions for extracting the hostages and bring them back to Israel as quick as possible. The Israeli army attempted to project strength, even releasing a video it says shows combat operations in eastern Rafah. But for the country's political leadership, on display was division and discord. At a news conference, war cabinet member Benny Gantz, threatening to resign from the government if a new six-point plan for the war in Gaza isn't adopted within weeks. At the fateful crossroads where we are at now, the leadership must see the big picture to identify risks and identify opportunities, formulate an updated national strategy so that we can fight shoulder to shoulder. The war cabinet must form a six-point plan by June 8 to bring home our hostages, to eliminate the Hamas regime, and demarcate the Gaza Strip to ensure Israeli security control. Gantz's comments coming just days after Defense Minister Yoav Galant called on Netanyahu to oppose Israeli military rule in Gaza and to make clear his post-war plans. While the demonstrations continue to gather momentum and while more members of his war cabinet publicly criticized the prime minister, it seems Netanyahu is feeling the most amount of pressure from the far right-wing flank of his coalition. People like National Security Minister Itmar Ben-Gavir and Finance Minister Betzel El-Smotrich, who for months have threatened to collapse his government if Netanyahu doesn't commit to going full force into Rafah. Mohammad Jamjoum, Al Jazeera, Amman.

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Moscow

Russia releases video footage to challenge Kyiv over alleged attack

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Jerusalem

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Council of the City of Sydney

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Caracas

Trump says U.S. strike hit dock in Venezuela

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Washington

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New York

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Al Mukalla

Saudi Arabia bombs port in Yemen

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Taipei City

China fires rockets towards Taiwan in war games simulating blockade

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Kuala Lumpur

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Krong Poi Pet

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Florida

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Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Zelenskyy denies Russian claim that Ukraine targeted Putin’s residence

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Hammonton

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Palm Beach

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Makun

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