BBCNews - Steve Bell sacked by #Guardian in #antisemitism row over #Netanyahu cartoon
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-67122609

It's been reported that the US Secretary of State and the Israeli prime minister had to shelter in a bunker for five minutes when air sirens went off during their meeting in Tel Aviv.

The insight into what happened in the meeting between Antony #Blinken and Benjamin #Netanyahu was released by US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.

#Netanyahu 's office says there is no ceasefire in place around the #Rafah crossing
"There is currently no truce and humanitarian aid in Gaza in exchange for getting foreigners out."
#Israel #Gaza #hamas

V BBC's Tom Bateman:
#Netanyahu says he'll “eliminate” #Hamas. But what happens the day after? We’ve been getting some clues about thinking within parts of the #Israeli govt.

Cabinet minister Gideon Sa’ar said on Israeli TV that Gaza must end up smaller - with Israel taking control of a belt of land in the east and north of the strip. This will play into the worst fears of #Palestinians as it evokes their core issue - the loss of lands in the conflicts surrounding Israel’s creation 75 ys ago

From the #BBCWorldService news bulletin:
Blinken has warned that every precaution must be taken to avoid harming civilians as #Israel prepares for a major ground offensive in #Gaza. More than 2600 #Palestinians have been killed since the #Hamas assault on Israel

The Israeli energy minister says the country has decided to resume supplying #water to Southern Gaza. Katz said the decision has been agreed between #Netanyahu and Biden

PM #Netanyahu insists #Israel's expanded emergency government is working around the clock and together with a united front. He vowed Israel's unity relays a clear message to the nation, enemy and wider world.

A moment's silence was held for victims of the #Hamas onslaught last Saturday.

The Israeli leader told the cabinet that the military knows the "entire country" is behind them and understand "this is a fateful hour"

If you are relatively new to the media scene in #Israel , there is an episode of #TheGlobalJigsaw focusing on how the press took a stand during the 'judicial reform' protests, which might help you understand better what has been going on since #Netanyahu came back to power
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0g0wffp
#podcast #podcasting

Analysis v Haaretz, by Alon Pinkas (the paper has taken an openly anti-PM position since the judicial overhaul started in #Israel ):
"On Thursday, Benjamin #Netanyahu took his zero-responsibility-always-share-the-blame attitude to a new level by forming a “temporary war cabinet.” In any other case it would be the right thing to do - for him, it's just another way to make sure there is someone else to blame for the #Gaza war failures"
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-10-13/ty-article/.premium/netanyahu-is-on-brand-no-responsibility-no-accountability-no-remorse/0000018b-288d-d450-a3af-699d263a0000

V The Jerusalem Post:
#Israelis blame gov’t for #Hamas massacre, say #Netanyahu must resign - poll
https://m.jpost.com/israel-news/article-767880#767880
new Dialog Center poll released on Thursday found that an 'overwhelming majority – 86% of respondents, including 79% of coalition supporters, said the surprise attack from #Gaza is a failure of the country’s leadership,'

Good morning from London, ~ half past 8 in MENA. A recap:

The number of Israelis killed by #Hamas has risen to 1,300, with at least 150 hostages taken into Gaza

More than 1,400 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched retaliatory air strikes, w 338,000 people displaced

#Netanyahu has told parliament that "difficult days await" at the swearing in of the war cabinet

The #UN says Gaza is facing a "dire" situation with food and water quickly running out

Poll finds 86% of Israeli Jews "said the surprise attack from Gaza is a failure of the country's leadership" and 56% think Bibi should resign after the conflict ends.

Guessing that's not quite the rally-around-the-flag effect he was hoping for.

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-767880

#israel #hamas #gaza #Netanyahu

(Cont-d)
Benjamin #Netanyahu said "the fate of the country is at stake." He added that "unity among the people in moments of grief and sorrow resonates worldwide. #Hamas is like #ISIS ; we will crush and eliminate them just as they did with ISIS."

Acc to Likud source, it was agreed that Netanyahu, Gallant and Gantz will be part of the war cabinet. Gadi Eisenkot, a member of Gantz's party and ex-IDF Chief of Staff, alongside Strategic Affairs Min Ron Dermer, will serve as observer

#Israel #Gaza

V Haaretz:
Benny #Gantz , who joined an emergency govt with #Netanyahu, stated that his cooperation is "a clear message to our adversaries and to all #Israeli citizens: all of us together are mobilizing." Gantz said after the Security Cabinet meeting, "Just as people from left and right, from the city and the village, go out to fight, decisions of the government will also be made by people from different camps. Now, we are all one camp - the camp of the people of Israel."
#Gaza #hamas

“ #Hamas started this war. We’ll finish it and we’ll finish it on our terms,” Mark Regev, PM #Netanyahu 's senior advisor told the #BBC.
“I’d ask other people, citizens of Britain, of any other country, what would you do if 1,000 of your people were killed on one day?"
“If #Israel doesn’t respond with force, I’m afraid the lesson will be learnt across this region - you can hit Israel with impunity - that’s not acceptable.”

v Haaretz:
The meeting between PM #Netanyahu and Head of the National Unity party #Gantz to coordinate the formation of an emergency government has been postponed to Wednesday
AM due to the prolonged security cabinet session.