Gantz threatened this month to resign from the war cabinet unless Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approves a post-war plan for the Gaza Strip. AFP
"The head of the National Union Party, Pnina Tamano-Shata, has put forward a bill to dissolve the 25th Knesset. This follows the request of party leader Minister Benny Gantz to move forward in broad agreement to an election before October, a year since the massacre," the party said in a statement.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party countered that "the dissolution of the unity government is a reward for (Hamas Gaza leader Yahya) Sinwar, a capitulation to international pressure and a fatal blow to efforts to free our hostages".
An election is not scheduled before the final quarter of 2026 and the Likud has previously warned that holding one earlier would harm the army's war in Gaza.
Gantz threatened this month to resign from the war cabinet unless Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approves a post-war plan for the Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu has also come under criticism from Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for failing to rule out an Israeli occupation of Gaza after the war.
Recent Israeli media reports indicate that the premier's war planning has also come under scrutiny by army chief Herzi Halevi and top officials from the Shin Bet security agency.
Furthermore, Netanyahu is under pressure from Washington to quickly end the war on Gaza, which has sparked global outrage toward the long-standing allies and caused immense suffering for Palestinians.
Israel's war has killed at least 36,224 Palestinians in Gaza and wounded around 80,000 others, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
*This story was edited by Ahram Online
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