Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dissolved the cabinet tasked with overseeing the war in Gaza, according to Israeli officials. 

The war cabinet was dissolved on Monday local time following the departure of Benny Gantz, a centrist former military chief, earlier this month. 

Opposition politician Mr Gantz had joined the coalition in the early days of the war and after his departure, it was widely expected Mr Netanyahu would dissolve the cabinet. 

Mr Netanyahu had faced demands from the nationalist-religious partners in his coalition, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, to be included in the war cabinet.

Mr Gantz, Mr Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant were the cabinet’s key members and the trio made decisions together throughout the war.

Israeli officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to the Associated Press because they were not authorised to discuss the change with the media, said that going forward Mr Netanyahu would hold smaller forums with some of his government members for sensitive issues.

Reuters also reported the dissolution. 

Mr Gantz, a longtime political rival of Mr Netanyahu’s, joined the government as a show of unity after Hamas’ October 7 attack on southern Israel. 

He left the government earlier this month, citing frustration with Mr Netanyahu’s handling of the war.

Mr Gantz’s departure, while not posing a direct threat to Mr Netanyahu’s rule, rocked Israeli politics at a sensitive time. 

The popular former military chief was seen as a statesman who boosted Israel’s credibility with its international partners at a time when Israel finds itself at its most isolated.