Israel positions itself at the center of a growing war effort. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Benny Gantz stood beside one another in an emergency government meeting this week, signaling a united front in the face of renewed hostilities with Palestinian militias in Gaza. The fighting began after Hamas launched a surprise assault over the weekend, and casualties have mounted on both sides. Estimates place the death toll around two thousand, with a rapid mobilization of reservists—up to three hundred thousand—to prepare for a potential land operation. In a joint statement, Netanyahu and Gantz announced the formation of an emergency government and a war management cabinet, underscoring a shared resolve to coordinate the national response during this crisis.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that municipal elections would be postponed indefinitely, with the vote originally slated for October 31. The last national vote in Israel occurred after a major conflict in 1973, and current events have drawn inevitable parallels to that era. The immediate impact of the war has been stark in Israel, where about 1,200 people were reported killed in attacks tied to Islamist militias. Netanyahu and Gantz met at the army headquarters in Tel Aviv on Saturday to finalize practical steps for emergency governance, continuing a series of discussions since the outbreak of hostilities.
In Gaza, the toll is severe, with reports indicating around 950 dead under heavy bombardment and thousands more injured, with medical facilities overwhelmed and at times strained beyond capacity. Gaza authorities have described the situation as a humanitarian disaster, with the regional power plant nearly exhausted of fuel and operations severely disrupted. Critics warn that without a swift international response, the region could face a systemic collapse as fighting persists. Israeli airstrikes continue alongside ongoing clashes with infiltrating militias from southern areas.
Union of political rivals
The political maneuvering around the unity government centers on the figure of Gantz and the current opposition leader Yair Lapid. The proposal to include Lapid in the national administration has been in motion since Hamas’s unprecedented attack, with Gantz previously serving as Netanyahu’s partner in government. A split over policy and leadership in June 2021 contributed to the dissolution of the governing coalition, though Gantz remained in power after elections held the following year. The anti-Netanyahu camp has, since then, resisted rejoining the old coalition.
Gantz has emerged as a prominent voice in national polling. In recent days, Netanyahu secured backing from coalition partners, including far-right and ultra-Orthodox factions, to incorporate Gantz into the emergency cabinet. Reports in Israeli media indicate that Gantz requested a small, tightly empowered war cabinet, though Netanyahu has asserted that he will retain final decision-making authority.
Armed civilians and ongoing combat
Beyond the bombardment in Gaza, fighting has spilled into other areas. In the village of Qusra, located south of Nablus, a clash reportedly involved Israeli settlers and soldiers, resulting in fatalities and injuries among Palestinians. Local sources described delays in ambulance access as authorities faced operational hurdles during the early hours of the incident. In parallel, the political leadership in Israel has authorized measures intended to bolster civilian security, with speeches promising broad firearm distribution to residents near border areas. As a part of this broader security push, conscripts and security teams in border towns and West Bank settlements are expected to receive rifles, helmets, and protective gear.
Authorities announced a large-scale mobilization of reserve forces, with as many as three hundred thousand reservists called up to date. The security narrative includes a growing call for civilian participation in border defense, alongside continued deployment of military units near Palestinian territories. Some civilians have expressed a sense of urgency and resolve, with reports of interviews from residents anticipating imminent ground action. Military officials have signaled that a ground operation could begin within the next 48 hours, pending formal authorization, though no official timetable has been released.