Israel war cabinet minister Benny Gantz quits government

"(Benjamin) Netanyahu is preventing us from progressing to a real victory. That is why we are leaving the emergency government today with a heavy heart," Gantz said in a televised address.

Flanked by Israeli flags, he said Netanyahu was failing in the war against Hamas Palestinian militants in Gaza.

Gantz called for early elections, saying "there should be elections that will eventually establish a government that will win the trust of the people and be able to face challenges."

"I call on Netanyahu: set an agreed election date."

Gantz said last month he would resign from the war cabinet if Netanyahu did not approve a post-war plan for Gaza by June 8.

But Gantz's departure is not expected to bring down the government, a coalition including religious and ultra-nationalist parties

Gantz's centrist National Union Party submitted a bill last week to dissolve the Knesset, Israel's parliament, and hold an early election.