Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Israel
would “crush and destroy” all Hamas members, as the country continued its
strikes in Gaza in response to the weekend assault by Hamas. Netanyahu joined
opposition leader Benny Gantz to form an emergency unity government and a war
Cabinet to oversee the fight against Hamas. It will consist of Netanyahu,
Gantz, current Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and two other top officials
serving as “observer” members. The government would not pass any legislation or
decisions that are not connected to the war as long as the fighting continues.
The war has claimed at least 2,300 lives so far.
Meanwhile, in Gaza, the only
power plant ran out of fuel and was forced to shut down, leaving most of the
2.3 million inhabiting the Gaza Strip with no electricity. Israel has stopped
the entry of food, water, fuel and medicine into the territory — a
40-kilometre-long strip of land wedged among Israel, Egypt and the
Mediterranean Sea.
United States’ Secretary of State Antony Blinken is
headed to Israel and is due to meet senior Israeli officials, including
Netanyahu, to discuss further boosting military support. Blinken told
reporters, “I’m going with a very simple and clear message … that the United
States has Israel’s back.”
