Benjamin Netanyahu, Benny Gantz, Yoav Gallant to set up “war cabinet”

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Benny Gantz have agreed to form an emergency government, a “war cabinet” will also be set up – with Netanyahu, Gantz and the country’s defence minister, Yoav Gallant.

This means that during the war period, “no bills or government decisions will be promoted that do not concern the conduct of the war”. The new government will have a limited mandate and will focus on dealing with the latest COVID pandemic and the economy.

Netanyahu said the move was “in the national interest”.

“We are in the midst of a battle for our lives and for the lives of our loved ones,” he said.

“We are in the midst of a great national emergency.”

Gantz said the move was “not a magic wand” but would help the country get through the crisis.

“This is a time for unity,” he said.

“We need to set aside our differences and work together for the good of the country.”

Meanwhile, the death toll in Israel from the Hamas attacks has reached 1,200, mostly civilians, with more than 1,000 people – also largely civilians – have been killed by Israeli air strikes on Gaza.

Israel has shelled Lebanese territory in response to an attack from Hezbollah killed at least three Hezbollah militants on Monday, and Israel said one of its officers was killed during an earlier cross-border raid claimed by Palestinians in Lebanon.

The cross-border violence marked a significant expansion of a conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza to the Israeli-Lebanese border further north.

Read also: Roberta Metsola: “Hamas is a terrorist organisation. They do not represent the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people”