Former Israeli defence minister urges six-month unity government to secure Gaza captives

Former Israeli defence minister Benny Gantz has offered to temporarily rejoin Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition in a bid to secure the release of captives held in Gaza.

Israeli media reported that Gantz, who leads the Blue and White–National Unity alliance and quit the government in June 2024, urged Netanyahu, opposition leader Yair Lapid, and Yisrael Beiteinu head Avigdor Liberman to form a six-month “government of redeeming the captives”.

Yisrael Beiteinu said it supports retrieving captives without attaching political demands, while Lapid has repeatedly called for elections to replace Netanyahu and his far-right allies.

Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir attacked Gantz in a post on X, claiming Israel’s government is stronger without him.

“Right-wing voters chose right-wing policy – not Gantz’s policy, not a centrist government, not surrender deals with Hamas, but absolute victory,” Ben-Gvir wrote.