Gantz says he will not run in upcoming elections; 'will keep pushing' for a unity government

Blue and White Chairman Benny Gantz announced that he will not run in the upcoming elections. “I will not run in the upcoming elections,” Gantz said, adding, “I will continue to fight for unity. This is the only solution that will prevent another disaster and safeguard Israel against all challenges, both domestic and external.”

The former chief of staff and defense minister says he will keep focusing on establishing a unity government that acts in the best interest of the State of Israel.

Blue and White has struggled to clear the electoral threshold, and the party has seen prominent figures leave. In May, MK Hili Tropper, one of the first people Gantz recruited, quit, saying he could no longer “realize his worldview” within the party

Many current opposition party leaders made statements following the announcment,

Chairman of the Yashar! Party and current opposition frontrunner Gadi Eisenkot responded by thanking Gantz for what he called a “correct and responsible decision to withdraw from the race in what are the most fateful elections since the founding of the State.” Eisenkot also said, “I am grateful for his long-standing contribution to Israel’s security, and I am confident that he will continue to contribute to Israeli society in the future.”

Amcha Yisrael Party Chariman Ofer Winter also reacted to the news. In his own statement, Winter said, "We thank Benny Gantz for his decades of service to the State of Israel. Benny Gantz’s resignation underscores the importance of the "Amcha Yisrael" party within the Israeli public sphere."

In a post on X, the Democrats Party Chairman Major General (Res.) Yair Golan said, "Gantz has made a responsible and correct decision," adding that the decision comes at a time where "our shared responsibility is to ensure the victory of the 'change bloc.'"