Benny Gantz

Benny Gantz is a former Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (2011-2015) and has served multiple terms as Defence Minister. He leads the National Unity (Machane Mamlacha) party, which positions itself in the centre-right of Israeli politics as an alternative to Netanyahu's Coalition. Gantz joined Netanyahu's emergency war Cabinet following the Hamas attacks of 7 October 2023 but resigned in June 2024, citing disagreements over the Conduct of the war and the absence of a post-war political strategy for Gaza.

Gantz has consistently advocated for a more strategically coherent approach to both Gaza and the broader regional conflict, arguing that military gains must be matched by a political framework. He responded to the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding on 15 June 2026 by calling it a 'strategic failure', reflecting his view that Israel had been marginalised from a deal that directly affects its security, particularly concerning Hezbollah's position in Lebanon.

As opposition leader, Gantz's criticism carries the weight of military credibility: he is a former IDF chief whose views on strategic risk are taken seriously by security professionals and by the public. His rejection of the memorandum is distinct from Smotrich's maximalist position; where Smotrich demands more military action, Gantz argues Israel should have been included at the negotiating table. This distinction matters for understanding the range of Israeli objections to the deal.