Netanyahu’s Political Priorities Questioned Over Gaza War

Following Donald Trump’s win in the U.S. presidential election, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated that “the time has come” for Israel to extend full sovereignty over the West Bank, a territory under Israeli occupation since 1967. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed that he has spoken with Trump multiple times since the election and that they share a common view on addressing the Iranian threat. 

Meanwhile, the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has warned that it has “enough weapons, equipment, and supplies for a long battle” against Israel. Over the weekend, Israeli airstrikes killed dozens of people, including at least 20 children, in Gaza and Lebanon. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, at least 43,603 Palestinians have been killed, with 102,929 injured since the war began, while Lebanon’s Health Ministry reports 3,189 deaths and 14,078 injuries.

Israel’s former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has made claims about the handling of the war in Gaza. Gallant, who was fired by Netanyahu last week, stated that Netanyahu’s refusal to accept the ceasefire deal was rooted in personal political interests, not military strategy. Gallant said, “We killed all of them,” referring to the high-ranking Hamas leaders killed by Israeli forces. As the Minister of Defence, he said, “I did my job.”.

Gallant’s firing, announced on the same day as the U.S. election, has fuelled protests across Israel, with many Israelis accusing Netanyahu of putting his own political survival ahead of national security. “We feel that our country is slipping away, and tonight is just the last nail on the coffin,” said Maayan Oz, a protester in Tel Aviv.

Critics argue that Netanyahu’s actions reflect a dangerous shift away from democratic norms.

 

Palestinian Boy, 3, Killed by Air-Dropped Relief in Southern Gaza