Minister Gantz Urges Elections in September To Renew Public Trust in Israel’s Government
Israeli Minister Benny Gantz, a member of the war cabinet, called Wednesday for national elections to be held in September amid growing domestic and international pressures on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
“We must agree on a date for elections in September, toward a year to the war, if you will,” Gantz said in a televised briefing. “Setting such a date will allow us to continue the military effort while signaling to the citizens of Israel that we will soon renew their trust in us.”
The call for early elections comes as thousands of Israelis protest the government’s management of the conflict and the continued captivity of 134 Israelis in Gaza, six months into the hostilities. Despite these calls, Netanyahu, facing potential electoral defeat according to polls, insists that holding elections during the conflict would benefit Hamas, the governing entity in Gaza.
Likud, Netanyahu’s party, criticized Gantz for politicizing the situation, warning that elections could disrupt military actions and jeopardize negotiations for the hostages’ release. Gantz, a former defense minister and military chief of staff who was added to Netanyahu’s government days after the Oct. 7 attack on Israel as a sign of national unity, is favored by polls to win should elections proceed.
The conflict has led to significant casualties, with Gaza health authorities reporting over 32,000 Palestinian deaths due to Israel’s military response. Public sentiment in Israel has largely turned against Netanyahu following the October 7 attack, which resulted in around 1,200 Israeli deaths and the taking into captivity of more than 250 Israelis and foreign nationals.
If the government serves its full term, the next parliamentary election will be held on October 27, 2026.
