As the International Criminal Court on Thursday issued arrest warrants for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, Israeli leaders from across the political spectrum united to condemn the decision pronounced by a three-judge panel of the United Nations court.
The death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, one of the masterminds behind the group’s horrific 7 October 2023 attack on southern Israel, is no doubt a consequential moment in Israel’s yearlong war against Hamas.
President Joe Biden held a "direct," 30-minute phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, their first conversation in almost two months and a chance to confer over Israel's planned response to an Iranian ballistic missile attack.
He also greeted the people of Israel and the Jewish community across the world on their new year.
Speaking at the beginning of a security assessment meeting at the Air Force Command Center in the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv, Netanyahu said the strikes were "shifting the balance of power" between Israel and Hezbollah.
The fighting between Israel and Hamas was triggered by days of escalating clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police at a holy hilltop compound in East Jerusalem.
Could this be the primary reason why his efforts to form a coalition were reduced to a fizzle?
Further, they are said to be sympathetic towards Israel’s enemies. Netanyahu is arguably brewing a complex cocktail.
Mr Gantz, too, is none too fortuitously placed with his Blue and White party having splintered over his decision to enter a coalition.
The meeting comes after Israel agreed historic deals to normalise ties with two Saudi allies in the Gulf, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.
