“Citizens of Israel, we are at war. This is not an operation or an escalation, but a war.” This is how the Israeli Prime Minister spoke this Saturday, Benjamin Netanyahuwhich has declared a state of war in the country after the surprise offensive launched by Hamas, the largest since the start of the Yom Kippur War.

“Our country is at war and we are going to win it“added Netanyahu, who also issued a warning: “Our enemy will pay a price he has never known“.

The first decision of the ‘premier’ has been to instruct his forces to “expel the terrorists from the communities in which they had infiltrated” and to order “a broad call-up of the reserves to respond in a war that the enemy has never seen.” before”. “We are at war and we will emerge triumphant“he insisted.

The surprise attack launched by Hamas in the early hours of this Saturday has unleashed a conflict that already leaves more than 200 dead in Israel, which in turn has responded with a huge air deployment in which dozens of Israeli warplanes have hit targets of the Islamist movement in the Gaza Strip. In the enclave at least 232 Palestinians have died.

Netanyahu offers opposition to form emergency government

In this context, Netanyahu has offered the two main opposition leaders form a “broad emergency government” to confront the war, as reported by his party, Likud. The offer is addressed to the leader of Yesh Atid, Yair Lapid, and the leader of the National Unity party, Benny Gantz.

Gantz has noted that he is studying the possibility of participating in a unity government for the duration of the war. Previously, Lapid had also offered the formation of a unity government. “I have told Netanyahu that I am willing to form an emergency government with him” to “oversee the difficult, complex and protracted campaign that lies ahead,” he noted.