Lapid said he saluted military chief Herzi Halevi for stepping down and added: "Now, it is time for them to take responsibility and resign -- the prime minister and his entire catastrophic government."

The head of Israel's military resigned earlier on Tuesday, taking responsibility for its "failure" to stop Hamas's October 7 attack, days after a fragile truce took effect following 15 months of war in the Gaza Strip.

In his resignation letter, released by the army, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi said he was stepping down "due to my acknowledgement of responsibility for the (military's) failure on October 7", but added that he was leaving at a time of "significant successes".

He acknowledged, however, that the goals of the Gaza war "have not all been achieved", adding the army would "continue to fight to further dismantle Hamas", bring back the hostages and enable Israelis displaced by militant attacks to return home.

Shortly after his announcement, Major General Yaron Finkelman also resigned. Finkelman headed Israel's southern military command, which is responsible for Gaza.

Israel launched a war that has levelled much of Gaza and killed 46,913, a majority of them women and children.

Ninety-one captives remain in captivity, 34 of whom the military says are dead.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had vowed early in the war to crush Hamas and to bring home all the hostages.