Gantz Quits Knesset Race, Shifting Political Landscape

The decision follows weeks of speculation and declining poll numbers, with recent surveys consistently placing Gantz's party at only about 1% of the vote, well below the electoral threshold. Gantz informed his faction members of his choice before making the public announcement. Sources close to Gantz indicated that he is not expected to publicly endorse another candidate, and that his decision was made independently of other bloc leaders.

Political figures reacted swiftly to the announcement. Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Reserve Soldiers Party, and Yoaz Hendel, chairman of the Reservists Party, both thanked Gantz and called his withdrawal a correct and responsible decision, with Hendel urging voters of the "third bloc" to join his party. Yair Golan and Efrat Reiten also praised the move as responsible, while journalist Barak Sari contrasted Eisenkot's successful organization of his bloc with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's failure to unite the right-wing parties, which risk wasting votes.