In a move that has sent ripples through the Israeli political landscape, Benny Gantz has resigned from Israel's war cabinet. The resignation, although not entirely unexpected, has raised eyebrows and questions about the future of Israel's strategy in Gaza. If politics were a stage play, Gantz has just stormed off, muttering something about a missing script for the postwar scene.

Gantz announced his resignation in a televised event on Sunday, clearly displeased with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's inability to present a plan for Gaza's future after the ongoing conflict. It seems that even war cabinets are subject to the age-old rule of "no plan, no game."

Despite the hoopla, Gantz's resignation does not immediately threaten Netanyahu's coalition. This might come as a surprise to some, but anyone familiar with the acrobatics of Israeli politics would know there's always a backup contortionist ready to step in. Netanyahu, ever the seasoned ringmaster, called on Gantz to stay in the government to maintain unity. Alas, Gantz was unmoved, probably off to find a stage where the directors know how to finish what they start.

The backdrop to this drama is Israel's ongoing war with Hamas, which has been raging since October 7. As the civilian death toll in Gaza continues to rise, international and domestic pressure on Netanyahu has been mounting. More than 37,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, according to Gaza's Ministry of Health. Given these numbers, one might understand why Gantz is eager to see a coherent plan emerge from the fog of war.

Gantz had set a deadline of June 8 for Netanyahu to present a postwar plan, a date that has come and gone without much fanfare or planning. This oversight, for lack of a better term, was the final straw that led to Gantz’s exit. His resignation will force Netanyahu to rely more heavily on his far-right allies. This pivot to the right might comfort some while alarming others, but it’s all part of the grand ol' show called Israeli politics.

Netanyahu’s immediate response was to emphasize the need for unity, which is often political code for "please don't leave me alone with these folks." It seems Gantz’s departure will indeed force Netanyahu to turn to his more extreme partners, which could further strain Israel's relations with its international partners.

Interestingly, Gantz delayed his resignation announcement due to the recent rescue of four hostages. This rescue operation, despite its intentions, resulted in the death of more than 270 Palestinians. The optics, as they say, are not great.

Another complicating factor is that the war cabinet operates independently from the broader Israeli government, which means that Gantz’s departure, while impactful, doesn’t upend the entire system. But his exit does strip Netanyahu’s government of some of its credibility, particularly with international partners like the United States.

Gantz’s criticism hinged on the lack of a coherent plan for Gaza once the dust settles, a plan that Netanyahu has yet to produce. The question now is whether Netanyahu can pick up the pieces and come up with a strategy, or if his focus will shift entirely to keeping his coalition, and his job, intact.

As the drama unfolds, expect more plot twists, unexpected exits, and maybe even a few surprise reappearances. After all, in the theater of politics, the show must go on, even if everyone forgets their lines.