In a rapidly escalating conflict that has resulted in devastating consequences on both sides, Israel has formed a unity government as it strives to address the ongoing crisis ignited by a Hamas attack. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in an unprecedented move, joined forces with a top political rival to create a wartime Cabinet tasked with overseeing a response to the gruesome weekend attack by Hamas militants, AP reports.
“Every Hamas member is a dead man,” vowed Netanyahu in a televised address, pledging to “crush and destroy” the organization, as Israeli forces launched intense bombardments on the sealed-off Gaza Strip.
The recent violence has seen both Palestinian and Israeli casualties rise dramatically. The death toll has reached at least 2,300 lives, a stark reminder of the high stakes in the ongoing conflict. On the Gaza side, the Palestinian health ministry reported a rising death toll, with the count reaching 1,200 early Thursday.
The Israeli government is grappling with intense public pressure to take decisive action against Hamas. The militant group’s attack involved the storming of a border fence and the massacre of hundreds of Israelis, which, according to Netanyahu, included horrifying atrocities such as binding boys and girls, burning people alive, rape, and beheading.
However, it’s important to note that these allegations by the Israeli Prime Minister could not be independently confirmed at the time of reporting. Numerous fake news stories are being disseminated, including one falsely claiming that Hamas militants were beheading children and stripping the clothes off a woman who was alleged to have been killed by Hamas militants. However, the 22-year-old German woman whose naked body was reportedly paraded by Hamas fighters amid the ongoing war, her mother said she believes her daughter is alive, German news outlet Der Spiegel reported.
The new unity Cabinet, which will exclusively focus on issues related to the war, will be jointly led by Netanyahu, Benny Gantz, a senior opposition figure and former defense minister, and the current Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. This unity government comes at a time when the Israeli military appears increasingly likely to launch a ground offensive into Gaza, a move that could result in a surge of casualties on both sides, considering the densely populated nature of the region.
Notably, Israel’s political divisions persist, as the country’s chief opposition leader, Yair Lapid, has been invited to join the Cabinet but has not immediately responded. The existing government partners are expected to remain in place to manage non-war related matters.
As the Israeli airstrikes continue to wreak havoc in Gaza, entire city blocks have been flattened, and countless bodies remain beneath the debris. A ground offensive in Gaza would further compound the already dire situation, particularly given the dense population.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has grown increasingly dire. The UN reported a 30 percent increase in the number of people displaced by the airstrikes within 24 hours, reaching 339,000, with two-thirds of them seeking refuge in U.N. schools. Humanitarian corridors into Gaza have been desperately needed, but attempts to deliver food, water, fuel, and medicine have been hindered, leaving the Gaza Strip in a dire state.
Hospitals in Gaza are facing critical shortages of essential supplies, with only a few days’ worth of fuel remaining. The situation is dire, with healthcare professionals struggling to cope with the influx of patients and limited resources.
The conflict’s impact has also been felt in the West Bank, where Israeli settlers attacked a village, resulting in the death of three Palestinians.
This latest round of conflict is rooted in longstanding grievances, with Hamas citing Palestinian suffering under unending Israeli military occupation, increasing settlements in the West Bank, and a 16-year-long blockade in Gaza as the motivation for its attack.
Israel, for its part, has adopted a new tactic of warning entire Gaza neighborhoods to evacuate, rather than individual buildings, before launching large-scale airstrikes. However, civilians have reported being unable to escape or having nowhere to go, leading to civilian casualties and immense destruction.
(Inputs from various reports)
❤️ Support Independent Journalism
Your contribution keeps our reporting free, fearless, and accessible to everyone.
Or make a one-time donation
Secure via Razorpay • 12 monthly payments • Cancel anytime before next cycle
(We don't allow anyone to copy content. For Copyright or Use of Content related questions, visit here.)
The Chenab Times News Desk
