Ammon News - Israeli minister Benny Gantz is expected to announce in a speech on Saturday his party's withdrawal from the emergency government formed after the Oct. 7 attack, according to political sources close to Gantz.

It would likely destabilize the government and exacerbate the political crisis in Israel as the war in Gaza continues and as hostage and ceasefire negotiations are ongoing.

Gantz joined the emergency government created four days after the Oct. 7 attack when occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the members of his government were shocked and overwhelmed by events.

In a May 18 speech, Gantz gave an ultimatum to Netanyahu and said his party will leave the government if the cabinet doesn't approve a strategy for the war in Gaza by June 8.

Gantz's likely exit from the coalition comes as the Biden administration is pushing hard for a hostage and ceasefire deal in Gaza — one of the key points in Gantz's ultimatum to Netanyahu.

Earlier this week, Gantz spoke to senior Biden administration officials, told them about his imminent decision and asked for their opinion, a source with knowledge told Axios.

Senior U.S. officials told Gantz it is his call and stressed they are not going to intervene in a domestic Israeli political issue. At the same time, they mentioned the hostage deal negotiations are at a very sensitive point, the source said.

Gantz declined to comment for this story.

What to watch: With Gantz's withdrawal, Netanyahu's government would be dominated even more Ben Gvir and Smotrich, who will likely increase pressure on the prime minister to take an even more hardline approach to the war in Gaza, take steps against the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and escalate attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Gantz's exit would also likely lead Netanyahu to dismantle the war cabinet and make decisions mostly with his Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant and his confidant minister Ron Dermer.