New Delhi: Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader MK Benny Gantz, who also served as head of the army and defence minister, reached an agreement to form an “emergency government” as the conflict with Hamas reached the fifth day on Wednesday, BBC reported.
According to the report, Gantz will join the Netanyahu-led government and be a part of Israel’s war cabinet. The war cabinet is a small forum of ministers who are tasked with shaping the country’s strategy in the war with Hamas.
Gantz also asserted that the priority for Israel now is to win the war against Hamas, stated the report.
“The sides agreed to form a war cabinet comprising PM Netanyahu, Benny Gantz and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and during the fighting with Hamas in Gaza will not promote any unrelated policy or laws,” a statement issued by Gantz's National Unity party said, as reported by news agency Reuters.
According to a report by Times of Israel, PM Netanyahu and opposition leader Gantz held a private meeting at the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv earlier in the day.
As per the report, Gantz had been insisting on the formation of a small war cabinet that would have a “real influence” on the management of the war. He had also stated that the war cabinet should have at least two opposition leaders with the highest levels of military experience.
The development comes as Israel stepped up its attack on Gaza following the surprise attack by militant group Hamas on Saturday. The conflict has left over 2,000 dead in both Gaza and Israel so far.
Meanwhile, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, Gaza was left with no electricity, water and internet services as its only power plant ran out of fuel supplies on Wednesday. This came after Israel stopped the supply of water, food, medicines and essential items to the Gaza strip in retaliation to the Hamas assault.