The Israeli army on Saturday (May 18) said that troops had retrieved the body of hostage Ron Benjamin, who was allegedly captured by Hamas militants while on a cycling trip.&nbsp;

The development comes with a warning by Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz as he demanded a post-war plan by June 8, otherwise, he would quit the coalition.&nbsp;

Gantz asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to commit to an agreed vision for the Gaza conflict that would include stipulating who might rule the territory after the war with Hamas.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-claims-to-have-captured-another-village-in-kharkiv-region-ukraine-struggles-on-eastern-front-722910">Russia claims to have captured another village in Kharkiv region, Ukraine struggles on eastern front</a>&nbsp;

While speaking during a news conference, Gantz said he wanted the war cabinet to form a six-point plan by June 8.&nbsp;

He further added that if his expectations were not met, he would withdraw his centrist party from the conservative premier's emergency government.&nbsp;

<h2>Ron Benjamin's body retrieved&nbsp;</h2>

Military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said Benjamin's body was retrieved in the same operation that saw troops recover the remains of three other hostages.&nbsp;

In a separate statement, the military said that Benjamin was "murdered during the October 7th massacre at the Mefalsim intersection, and his body was abducted to Gaza by Hamas militants".&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-may-use-data-from-tiktok-to-spy-on-people-warns-canadas-security-intelligence-chief-722901">China may use data from TikTok to spy on people, warns Canada’s security intelligence chief</a>&nbsp;

"His body was rescued along with the bodies of Yitzhak Gelerenter, Shani Louk, and Amit Buskila ... based on precise intelligence obtained during the interrogations of terrorists who were apprehended in the Gaza Strip," the statement added.&nbsp;

On Friday, the Israeli military announced that the troops had recovered the bodies of Yitzhak Gelerenter, Shani Louk, and Amit Buskila. All of them were taken hostage during the attack on the Nova music festival.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Palestinian Islamic Jihad's senior operative killed in West Bank

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The war started after Hamas militants launched an unprecedented attack on October 7. Nearly 1,200 people were killed in Israel, as per the authorities.&nbsp;

Thousands of young people had gathered on October 6 and 7 for the electronic music event, which was held near the Re'im kibbutz close to the Gaza border. The Nova festival victims accounted for nearly a third of the Israeli death toll.&nbsp;

Hamas militants had also taken hostages. Out of the 252 people, 124 are still being held inside the Gaza Strip, including 37 the army says are dead.&nbsp;

In retaliation to the attack, Israel launched the war and vowed to wipe out Hamas militants from the Strip.&nbsp;

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.&nbsp;&nbsp;

(With&nbsp;inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The Israeli army on Saturday (May 18) said that troops had retrieved the body of hostage Ron Benjamin, who was allegedly captured by Hamas militants while on a cycling trip.

The Israeli army on Saturday (May 18) said that troops had retrieved the body of hostage Ron Benjamin, who was allegedly captured by Hamas militants while on a cycling trip. The development comes with a warning by Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz as he demanded a post-war plan by June 8, otherwise, he would quit the coalition. Gantz asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to commit to an agreed vision for the Gaza conflict that would include stipulating who might rule the territory after the war with Hamas. Also read: Russia claims to have captured another village in Kharkiv region, Ukraine struggles on eastern front While speaking during a news conference, Gantz said he wanted the war cabinet to form a six-point plan by June 8. He further added that if his expectations were not met, he would withdraw his centrist party from the conservative premier's emergency government. Ron Benjamin's body retrieved Military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said Benjamin's body was retrieved in the same operation that saw troops recover the remains of three other hostages. In a separate statement, the military said that Benjamin was "murdered during the October 7th massacre at the Mefalsim intersection, and his body was abducted to Gaza by Hamas militants". Also read: China may use data from TikTok to spy on people, warns Canada’s security intelligence chief "His body was rescued along with the bodies of Yitzhak Gelerenter, Shani Louk, and Amit Buskila ... based on precise intelligence obtained during the interrogations of terrorists who were apprehended in the Gaza Strip," the statement added. On Friday, the Israeli military announced that the troops had recovered the bodies of Yitzhak Gelerenter, Shani Louk, and Amit Buskila. All of them were taken hostage during the attack on the Nova music festival. Watch: Palestinian Islamic Jihad's senior operative killed in West Bank × The war started after Hamas militants launched an unprecedented attack on October 7. Nearly 1,200 people were killed in Israel, as per the authorities. Thousands of young people had gathered on October 6 and 7 for the electronic music event, which was held near the Re'im kibbutz close to the Gaza border. The Nova festival victims accounted for nearly a third of the Israeli death toll. Hamas militants had also taken hostages. Out of the 252 people, 124 are still being held inside the Gaza Strip, including 37 the army says are dead. In retaliation to the attack, Israel launched the war and vowed to wipe out Hamas militants from the Strip. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. (With inputs from agencies)

IDF retrieves body of fourth hostage in Gaza; Gantz gives ultimatum to Netanyahu, sets June 8 deadline

Israel Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi left Blue and White party on Wednesday. This is the latest high profile&nbsp;defection from the bloc led by Defence Minister Benny Gantz. The party ran neck-to-neck with Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu's right wing Likud party during three inconclusive elections held between April 2019 and March 2020. The party however has seen dissent ever since Benny Gantz agreed to form coalition government with Netanyahu earlier this year.

Ashkenazi, like Gantz a former army chief, had been Gantz's top ally in the coalition that collapsed last week after failing to pass a budget, amid bitter acrimony between Blue and White and Likud.&nbsp;

New elections have been set for March 23, Israel's fourth vote in just under two years.&nbsp;

Despite Blue and White's cratering poll numbers, Gantz announced Tuesday that he intended to lead the party in the upcoming vote, vowing to be player in the anti-Netanyahu bloc.&nbsp; 
On Wednesday, Ashkenazi tweeted that he did "not intend to contest in the next election with Blue and White."

"I will take a break to consider the path ahead," he said.&nbsp;

Gantz said in a statement that he respected Ashkenazi's decision to leave the party and expressed his "heartfelt gratitude for these past two years of partnership for the good of our country."

A Blue and White spokesperson told AFP that Gantz had not asked Ashkenazi to resign from the foreign ministry.

That marks a departure compared to Gantz's response to the defection of outgoing justice minister Avi Nissenkorn.&nbsp;

Nissenkorn bolted from Blue and White to join a new centrist party formed by veteran Tel Aviv mayor Ron Huldai, called The Israelis.&nbsp;

Gantz asked Nissenkorn to resign from the justice ministry on Tuesday on grounds that Nissenkorn had "chosen his new political home." 
Recent polls indicate Blue and White will win just handful of seats in the March vote.

(With AFP inputs)

Israel Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi left Blue and White party on Wednesday. This is the latest high profile defection from the bloc led by Defence Minister Benny Gantz.

Israel Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi left Blue and White party on Wednesday. This is the latest high profile defection from the bloc led by Defence Minister Benny Gantz. The party ran neck-to-neck with Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu's right wing Likud party during three inconclusive elections held between April 2019 and March 2020. The party however has seen dissent ever since Benny Gantz agreed to form coalition government with Netanyahu earlier this year. Ashkenazi, like Gantz a former army chief, had been Gantz's top ally in the coalition that collapsed last week after failing to pass a budget, amid bitter acrimony between Blue and White and Likud. New elections have been set for March 23, Israel's fourth vote in just under two years. Despite Blue and White's cratering poll numbers, Gantz announced Tuesday that he intended to lead the party in the upcoming vote, vowing to be player in the anti-Netanyahu bloc. On Wednesday, Ashkenazi tweeted that he did "not intend to contest in the next election with Blue and White." "I will take a break to consider the path ahead," he said. Gantz said in a statement that he respected Ashkenazi's decision to leave the party and expressed his "heartfelt gratitude for these past two years of partnership for the good of our country." A Blue and White spokesperson told AFP that Gantz had not asked Ashkenazi to resign from the foreign ministry. That marks a departure compared to Gantz's response to the defection of outgoing justice minister Avi Nissenkorn. Nissenkorn bolted from Blue and White to join a new centrist party formed by veteran Tel Aviv mayor Ron Huldai, called The Israelis. Gantz asked Nissenkorn to resign from the justice ministry on Tuesday on grounds that Nissenkorn had "chosen his new political home." Recent polls indicate Blue and White will win just handful of seats in the March vote. (With AFP inputs)

Israel Foreign Minister Ashkenazi quits Gantz's Blue and White Party

Israel's President Reuven Rivlin will on Monday formally ask Benny Gantz to try to form the country's next government, after the ex-military chief secured recommendations from a majority of lawmakers.&nbsp;

"Tomorrow, around midday, the president will assign the task of forming the government to (the) head of Kachol Lavan... Benny Gantz," Rivlin's office said in a statement Sunday, using the Hebrew name for Gantz's centrist Blue and White party. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/netanyahu-leads-in-israeli-election-but-still-lacks-majority-to-form-government-284048">Netanyahu leads in Israeli election, but still lacks majority to form government</a>

An official tally from Rivlin's office said 61 lawmakers recommended Gantz, with 58 supporting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after a third general election in less than a year held on March 2. Israel's parliament, the Knesset, is comprised of 120 seats.

But there is no guarantee that the disparate forces who supported Gantz on Sunday will agree on terms on a stable coalition, something that proved impossible following the two inconclusive elections last year.

On top of support from Blue and White and a smaller centre-left alliance, Gantz was also recommended by the mainly Arab Joint List and the secular, nationalist Yisrael Beiteinu party.&nbsp;

Aside from being anti-Netanyahu, the Joint List and Yisrael Beiteinu have almost no political common ground.&nbsp;

Netanyahu's alliance, seen as more cohesive, includes his right-wing Likud as well as its religious, nationalist ally Yemina and two ultra-Orthodox parties.&nbsp;

Rivlin also summoned both Gantz and Netanyahu for talks to take place later on Sunday, following calls for a unity alliance to confront the deadly new coronavirus.

A presidency statement said Rivlin wanted to have "an urgent conversation this evening... regarding the possibility of immediately establishing a government."

Rivlin has previously stressed the need to avoid a fourth election and stressed the urgency of quickly forming a government to combat the pandemic.&nbsp;

"This is a time of trial," Rivlin said earlier Sunday. &nbsp;

"We must now deal with forming a government as soon as possible, (so) that we lead our people at this complex time." 
&nbsp;

Israel's President Reuven Rivlin will on Monday formally ask Benny Gantz to try to form the country's next government, after the ex-military chief secured recommendations from a majority of lawmakers.

Israel's President Reuven Rivlin will on Monday formally ask Benny Gantz to try to form the country's next government, after the ex-military chief secured recommendations from a majority of lawmakers. "Tomorrow, around midday, the president will assign the task of forming the government to (the) head of Kachol Lavan... Benny Gantz," Rivlin's office said in a statement Sunday, using the Hebrew name for Gantz's centrist Blue and White party. Also read: Netanyahu leads in Israeli election, but still lacks majority to form government An official tally from Rivlin's office said 61 lawmakers recommended Gantz, with 58 supporting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after a third general election in less than a year held on March 2. Israel's parliament, the Knesset, is comprised of 120 seats. But there is no guarantee that the disparate forces who supported Gantz on Sunday will agree on terms on a stable coalition, something that proved impossible following the two inconclusive elections last year. On top of support from Blue and White and a smaller centre-left alliance, Gantz was also recommended by the mainly Arab Joint List and the secular, nationalist Yisrael Beiteinu party. Aside from being anti-Netanyahu, the Joint List and Yisrael Beiteinu have almost no political common ground. Netanyahu's alliance, seen as more cohesive, includes his right-wing Likud as well as its religious, nationalist ally Yemina and two ultra-Orthodox parties. Rivlin also summoned both Gantz and Netanyahu for talks to take place later on Sunday, following calls for a unity alliance to confront the deadly new coronavirus. A presidency statement said Rivlin wanted to have "an urgent conversation this evening... regarding the possibility of immediately establishing a government." Rivlin has previously stressed the need to avoid a fourth election and stressed the urgency of quickly forming a government to combat the pandemic. "This is a time of trial," Rivlin said earlier Sunday. "We must now deal with forming a government as soon as possible, (so) that we lead our people at this complex time."

Israel: Benny Gantz given chance to form government