In an effort to address the ongoing war in Gaza, Benny Gantz, the top political rival of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is holding discussions with U.S. leaders in Washington this week. Gantz, a key member of Israel's War Cabinet, has witnessed a surge in popularity and plays a crucial role in shaping the country's future.

At 64 years old, Gantz is a centrist politician who joined Netanyahu's ultranationalist and religious government shortly after the Hamas attack on Israel that took place on October 7th. His aim was to foster national unity as the country wages war against Hamas in Gaza. With his credentials as the former military chief of staff, public support for Gantz has skyrocketed, with polls indicating that he would secure enough backing to become prime minister if elections were held today.

Conversely, Netanyahu's support has plummeted, with many Israelis blaming him for the failure to prevent the devastating Hamas attack that claimed the lives of over 1,200 Israelis, predominantly civilians. The growing rift between Gantz and Netanyahu became evident when the latter rebuked Gantz over his trip to Washington.

Speculation is rife that Gantz will depart from the government once the intense fighting subsides, marking the end of the period of national unity. This is likely to reignite massive anti-government protests that were held prior to the Hamas attack. Though Gantz's departure would not lead to the collapse of the government, the resumption of large-scale demonstrations could intensify pressure on Netanyahu's deeply unpopular coalition and push for early elections.

Gantz has been a prominent political rival of Netanyahu for the past five years. Joining Netanyahu's coalition in the chaotic aftermath of the Hamas attack, Gantz aimed to bring stability during a time of heightened division in Israel due to prolonged protests concerning planned changes to the country's legal system. Serving in the influential War Cabinet, he has acted as a moderating influence within the right-wing government.

Throughout the conflict, Gantz has sought to prioritize the plight of approximately 250 hostages held in Gaza, a stance that has faced opposition within the Cabinet due to the potential cost to Israel. Additionally, he has sought to strengthen Israel's alliance with the United States, which has provided crucial diplomatic and military support during the war.

Gantz leads the National Unity faction in parliament and entered politics in late 2018 after a distinguished military career spanning nearly four decades. This marked the beginning of a period of political instability that led to Israelis going to the polls five times within less than four years, each election serving as a referendum on Netanyahu's suitability to hold office while facing corruption charges. After initially refusing to join a government under Netanyahu, Gantz eventually agreed to be part of a short-lived coalition led by the prime minister, aiming to alleviate political turmoil as the COVID-19 pandemic was taking hold. However, Netanyahu returned to power in late 2022, forming a government composed of supporters of West Bank settlements and opponents of Palestinian statehood.

Gantz has previously served as defense minister, overseeing brief military operations in Gaza. In 2021, he controversially banned six prominent Palestinian rights groups, citing alleged militant links, a move that was widely criticized by Palestinians. While his stance on Palestinian statehood remains somewhat ambiguous, Gantz has taken steps to demonstrate his willingness to engage in dialogue, including holding meetings with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during his tenure as defense minister.