Israel-Gaza updates: Gantz rejects Netanyahu's request, resigns

He said Netanyahu is "preventing us from progressing towards a true victory."

As the Israel-Hamas war continues, negotiations are apparently stalled to secure the release of hostages taken by the terrorist organization, and Israeli forces continue to launch incursions in the southern Gazan town of Rafah ahead of a possible large-scale invasion.


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Officials to meet in Qatar Wednesday to discuss cease-fire deal: Report

Security officials from Egypt, the United States and Qatar will meet in Doha on Wednesday to look at ways to revive the Gaza truce negotiations, a senior Egyptian official told Egyptian state media.

Hamas rejected the Israeli cease-fire plan endorsed by President Joe Biden on Tuesday, saying they won't agree to anything until Israel commits to halting all military operations in Gaza.

-ABC News' Ayat Al-Tawy


World Central Kitchen serves 50 million meals to people in Gaza

World Central Kitchen has now served 50 million meals in Gaza, the organization announced during a press briefing Tuesday.

"I'd like to announce that we have just crossed the 50 million meal mark in Gaza. That is a huge accomplishment for us. We're about 50,100,000 right now. As many of you know, we had to pause our work in Gaza after the Israeli attack on our personnel convoy on April 1, which killed seven of our colleagues," World Central Kitchen Chief Communications Officer Linda Roth said during the press conference.

"Jose, our founder, says the decision to restart feeding in Gaza was both the hardest and the simplest one we could make," Roth said.

Right now, the organization has two main World Central Kitchen kitchens operating in Gaza in Deir al Balah and Mawasi, and "another 65 community kitchens spread throughout the strip," Roth said.

"We have about 400 Palestinian Response Corps members and hundreds and hundreds of more volunteers that are working to feed everyone in Gaza. It's Palestinians feeding Palestinians," Roth said.

-ABC News Guy Davies and Nadine Shubailat


IDF says things are at a breaking point in the north

The Israel Defense Forces say things have reached a breaking point along its border with Lebanon, where there has been an exchange of attacks between Israel and Hezbollah for months.

"We are approaching the point where a decision will have to be made, and the IDF is prepared and very ready for this decision. We have been striking here for eight months and Hezbollah is paying a very, very high price," Herzi Halevi, a spokesperson for the IDF, said Tuesday.

"Hezbollah has increased its attacks in recent days and we are prepared after a very good process of training up to the level of a General Staff exercise to move to an offensive in the north. Strong defense, readiness for an offensive, we are approaching a decision point," the IDF said.

-ABC News' Will Gretsky


Current cease-fire proposal has majority support in parliament, Israeli opposition leader says

The current cease-fire proposal has majority support in the Knesset, Israeli parliament, according to Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid.

"There is a large and clear majority in the government, the Knesset and the public in favor of a deal," Lapid said.

-ABC News' Will Gretsky


Gantz resigns from emergency government in blow to Netanyahu

Centrist Israeli minister Benny Gantz announced Sunday that he was resigning from the emergency government because of what he has described as a lack of a plan from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the "day after" in Gaza.

During a televised news conference, Gantz announced he was resigning from the coalition government, taking with him his State Party and the seats it held in the Knesset. Netanyahu's coalition government will still retain a majority, but the move by Gantz is considered a major blow to the prime minister.

"Netanyahu is preventing us from progressing towards a true victory," Gantz said. "For this reason, we are leaving the emergency government today, with a heavy heart, yet wholeheartedly."

He also called on Netanyahu to set a date for elections.

Gantz was set to make the announcement on Saturday but called it off amid the news of an Israel Defense Forces operation in Gaza that led to the rescue of four Israeli hostages.

Gantz is a member of Israel’s three-member war Cabinet, which includes Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

On Saturday, Netanyahu appealed to Gantz on X, saying, "This is the time for unity and not for division. We must remain united within ourselves in the face of the great tasks before us. I call on Benny Gantz -- do not leave the emergency government. Don't give up on unity."

Following Gantz's resignation, Netanyahu released a statement on X, saying, "Israel is in an existential war on several fronts."

"Benny, this is not the time to abandon the campaign -- this is the time to join forces," Netanyahu said. "Citizens of Israel, we will continue until victory and the achievement of all the goals of the war, primarily the release of all our hostages and the elimination of Hamas."

Netanyahu added, "My door will remain open to any Zionist party that is ready to get under the stretcher and assist in bringing victory over our enemies and ensuring the safety of our citizens."

In May, Gantz issued an ultimatum to Netanyahu, saying he would resign if the prime minister did not approve a post-war plan by June 8, saying at the time, "While the Israeli soldiers show supreme bravery on the front, some of the men who sent them into battle behave with cowardice and irresponsibility."

-ABC News' Jordana Miller