Netanyah disperses war cabinet

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has distributed his war cabinet with six members, an Israeli official said Monday.

Such a decision has been expected after General Benny Gantz left the cabinet.

Netanyah will now have to consult for the war in Gaza with a small group of ministers, including Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, who has been in the war cabinet.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has faced numerous demands by his coalition's nationalist-religious partners, including by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotric and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, to be included in the war cabinet, but such a step is considered to drive tensions with international partners, including the United States.

The war cabinet was formed after Gantz had joined Nantahyah in the National Unity Government after the start of the war in Gaza in October last year.

Gantz partners Gadi Eisencot and Aryeh Derie also attended.

Gantz and Eisencott have left the government last week, arguing that Netanyahu has failed to form a strategy for war in Gaza.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas dealt with the Palestinian group declared by the US and the European Union has started on October 7th 2023, after Hamas militants attacked several Israeli settlements, killing about 1,200 people and taking 240 others hostage.

Israel has then launched the offensive in Gaza, with the goal of destroying the group.

As a result of the Israeli offensive, more than 37,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children have been killed, according to Palestinian health authorities. / REL/