Netanyahu to Form Wartime Coalition and Prepare Troop Deployment... "Will Destroy Hamas" (Comprehensive)

Agreement on Formation of Emergency Government and Wartime Cabinet with Second Opposition Party
Ground Troop Deployment Imminent... "Will Eliminate Hamas in Gaza District"
Full Blockade of Gaza Strip Escalates Humanitarian Crisis
Egypt Proposes Temporary Ceasefire for Humanitarian Aid

Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, warned that he would form a wartime coalition government with the opposition and destroy Hamas, the Palestinian armed faction. Following Hamas's surprise attack on Israel on the 7th, Netanyahu has unified the divided public opinion and shifted to a wartime cabinet system, signaling that conditions are now set for a full-scale war against Hamas.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 11th (local time), Prime Minister Netanyahu formed a wartime coalition with Benny Gantz, former Minister of Defense and leader of the second-largest opposition party, the National Unity Party.

Netanyahu stated, "The most important measure is to unify the nation," adding, "The internal divisions have ended, and we have become one. United, we will win." Former Minister Gantz also emphasized, "We stand shoulder to shoulder here, sending a clear message to the enemy," and "We will win the war and change the security and strategic realities."

With the formation of the wartime cabinet, Israel is considered to have established the conditions to launch a full-scale war against Hamas, including the deployment of ground forces in the Gaza Strip. Israeli politics had been deeply divided over Netanyahu's judicial reform efforts. Some believe Hamas took advantage of this internal turmoil to carry out its attack on Israel. In this regard, the wartime cabinet has decided not to process any bills or decisions unrelated to the war.

On the fifth day of the war, Israel is preparing to deploy ground forces to the Gaza Strip. It has mobilized a record 360,000 reservists, concentrating 300,000 of them near the Gaza border. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant indicated that a large-scale ground operation is imminent, stating, "We started the offensive from the air, and later we will begin attacks on the ground."

As a preparatory step for ground combat, Israel continues the full blockade of the Gaza Strip and large-scale retaliatory airstrikes. Israel has reported striking over 2,600 Hamas targets in Gaza so far. According to Palestinian sources, this has resulted in the destruction of 22,600 homes, 10 hospitals, and 48 schools. Following the bombings, Israel is expected to soon deploy ground forces to completely destroy Hamas bases and conduct mop-up operations.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Prime Minister Netanyahu also warned of bloody retaliation, declaring that all Hamas members are "dead men." In a late-night TV address immediately after announcing the wartime coalition, he said, "Hamas attacked Israel, beheading soldiers and raping women. They shot boys and girls in the head and burned people alive," and vowed, "We will crush and destroy Hamas." Minister Gallant also warned, "We will wipe Hamas off the face of the earth."

As Israel is expected to engage in full-scale war, concerns are rising about the conflict spreading across the Middle East. Israel conducted airstrikes on southern Lebanon, which had shelled Israel. U.S. government officials have also indicated a high likelihood that Iran was aware of Hamas's attack plans in advance, fueling renewed speculation about Iran's involvement.

The full blockade imposed by Israel has banned the entry of electricity, water, food, fuel, and medicine into the Gaza Strip, escalating the humanitarian crisis. Egypt has proposed a six-hour ceasefire between Israel and Palestine to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza and is currently discussing this with Israel, the United States, and others.

The death toll from this war has now exceeded 3,300. Including the 1,500 bodies of Hamas militants found by the Israeli military, the total number of fatalities reaches 4,800.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.