TRANSCRIPT
The centrist member of Israel's war cabinet Benny Gantz has resigned, accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of mismanaging the war effort against Hamas.
Mr Gantz says the Prime Minister has put his own political survival over the country's security needs, and he expects the fighting to continue for years to come.
The Prime Minister had reportedly encouraged Mr Gantz not to leave the emergency wartime government.
But Mr Gantz says the country is being prevented from progressing to victory.
"Unfortunately, (Benjamin) Netanyahu prevents us from progressing to the real victory which is the justification for the painful and ongoing price. That is why we are leaving the wartime cabinet today. With a heavy heart but with a whole heart, we present ourselves today to the battle for the fate of the State of Israel for generations to come."
The move does not immediately pose a threat to Mr Netanyahu, who still controls a majority coalition in parliament, but Mr Gantz has called on Mr Netanyahu to set a date for elections.
Israelis in Tel Aviv have had mixed reactions to the resignation.
RESIDENT 1: "I think Gantz leaving the government, I think maybe it can be a positive thing. I think using always the card of - now it's not the time to be political - is dangerous because it's been already eight months of war."
RESIDENT 2: "To be honest, I believe Gantz shouldn't leave the government during a war, a crisis, tough time for our country, probably more than ever, resolve the hostages. I don't think that someone from the government should leave us at the time of war. I believe we should be united and should be staying strong as a nation."
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his country is fighting against several organisations including the International Criminal Court.
Arrest warrants are being sought by the International Criminal Court for the leaders of Hamas and Israel for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to the war in Gaza.
During a meeting in Jerusalem made up of families of deceased Israeli soldiers, Mr Netanyahu has insisted the army won't stop until a total victory against Hamas is achieved.
"We’re on seven fronts now, just to understand. We’re against Hezbollah, first of all against Hamas, against Hezbollah, against the Houthis, against the militias in Iraq and Syria, against Iran, against Judea and Samaria, and also against the ICC. Everything together. We are fighting on many, many fronts."
Israeli forces have continued to target central Gaza, a day after killing over 270 ((274)) Palestinians during a hostage rescue raid.
Residents say tanks have advanced further into Rafah in an apparent bid to seal off part of the southern city.
Palestinians remain in shock over the death toll following the hostage rescue raid, which was the worst over a 24-hour period for months.
A former English teacher and resident of Nuseirat, Mounira, describes the situation as horrible.
“I hope that human person, human leaders will interfere to ceasefire soon, soon because you don’t know what the miserable situation that the people live in here in Gaza. A devastating situation. Destruction really. When you see them in tents or even in their houses, there is no hope. They killed everything inside us. You can't see here no hope, no dream, no thinking about tomorrow. Because there is no safe place here in Gaza."
