Gantz: We need a consensus date for elections in September 

This evening (Wednesday), State Camp party leader and war cabinet member Benny Gantz gave a statement to the Knesset, where he called for a consensus date for early elections in September, almost one year since the war began.

In the statement, Gantz called for doing everything possible to take every opportunity to bring the hostages home and that he and his colleagues would not sit in a government which did not make such efforts.

He also said that the northern residents need to be returned safely to their homes "already this summer," as "we will be fighting Hamas for many years. We cannot agree to the remaining of the residents of the north away from their homes."

Gantz argued that new elections would be necessary to maintain unity within the nation and not be torn apart.