8 more Palestinians killed as Netanyahu dissolves war cabinet

TEL AVIV/GAZA: The Israeli military killed eight more Palestinians, including five children, following the Israeli Prime Minister (PM) Benjamin Netanyahu decision to dissolve the war cabinet amid escalating tensions in Gaza on Monday.

The dissolution comes in the wake of disagreements within the Israeli government over the continuation of military operations in Gaza. This follows the resignation of two key ministers from the emergency cabinet.

Read more: Embattled Israeli PM Netanyahu disbands war cabinet

The war cabinet was initially formed to address the genocide by Israel in Gaza. It consisted of six members, including Defense Minister Benny Gantz. Gentz also serves as the leader of the opposition in the knesset, Israel’s parliament.

The resignations of these ministers hints at deep divisions regarding the strategic direction of the military campaign and the broader implications for Israeli security and international relations.

In an interview following his resignation, Benny Gantz criticised Netanyahu’s leadership during the conflict. The opposition leader accused the Israeli PM of “hindering” progress towards achieving “meaningful outcomes” in Gaza.

Gantz’s departure and subsequent comments expose the internal strife within Israeli leadership over the handling of the war. It also highlights increasingly differing perspectives on military strategy and diplomatic engagement within Israel.

The dissolution of the war cabinet also follows pressures from extremist factions within Israel to expand the emergency government. These factions advocate for more aggressive military action in Gaza and have sought to influence decision-making at the highest levels of Israeli governance.

Meanwhile, reports from international media agencies have intensified scrutiny on Israel’s military actions in Gaza, particularly concerning civilian casualties and the humanitarian impact of the conflict. The recent attacks that resulted in the deaths of eight Palestinians, including those waiting for humanitarian aid, have drawn condemnation from various quarters.

Israel’s international standing and diplomatic relations have been shaken since their brutal invasion of the Gaza Strip lead to more than 37,000 Palestinian deaths, including 15,000 children.

The escalation of hostilities has not been confined to Gaza alone. Israeli military engagements with militant groups like Hamas have also sparked retaliatory actions, including attacks on Israeli soldiers and clashes with Hezbollah from Lebanon. The clashes with Hezbollah has world leaders, including Israel’s traditional allies in West, particularly alarmed as these developments signal a potential widening of the conflict beyond Gaza’s borders. It has raised concerns about regional stability and security in the wider Middle East region.

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In response to these developments, the Israeli government has reportedly considered punitive measures against countries that recognise the state of Palestine, indicating a hardening of its diplomatic stance amidst the escalating crisis. Such measures could further strain Israel’s relations with the international community, particularly with nations sympathetic to the Palestinian cause.