Israel’s new war Cabinet vows retaliation against ‘cruel enemy’ Hamas
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Israeli soldiers carry a body in Kfar Azza, an Israeli village just across the border from Gaza that was attacked by Palestinian gunmen.
PHOTO: NYTIMES
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JERUSALEM – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu forged an emergency government its deadly weekend attack. a massive bombardment of Gaza
In a joint statement, Mr Netanyahu and former defence chief and centrist opposition party leader Benny Gantz said they had agreed to form an emergency government comprising the two leaders and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.
The new unity government also pledged to change the “strategic reality” of a Gaza Strip controlled by Hamas, reported the Financial Times.
“Us standing here, shoulder to shoulder, is a clear message to our enemies. And more importantly, a message to all of Israel’s citizens – we’re all together, we’re all mobilising,” it quoted him as saying. He also pledged to win the war and “change the security and strategic reality in this arena”.
Islamist Hamas gunmen invaded Israel from the Gaza Strip on Saturday in a surprise assault that killed at least 1,200 people, the deadliest Palestinian militant attack in Israeli history.
Israel has responded with
Mr Netanyahu said later in televised remarks they had put aside their differences “because the fate of our state is on the line”.
“We are fighting a cruel enemy, worse than ISIS,” Mr Netanyahu said, alongside Mr Gantz and Mr Gallant, comparing the group’s attack with brutal killings carried out by Islamic State.
Defence Minister Gallant said: “We will wipe this thing called Hamas... off the face of the earth. It will cease to exist.”
Mr Gantz, a former Israeli defence chief and general, said it was a time to join together and win.
“There is a time for peace and a time for war. Now is a time for war,” he said.
During the fighting with Hamas in Gaza, the emergency government will not take up any unrelated policy or laws, Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gantz said in their joint statement.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid was not expected to join the emergency government at this stage. REUTERS
