Far-right leader returns to Netanyahu’s cabinet after strikes pummel Gaza
Itamar Ben-Gvir’s return to the coalition government strengthens it ahead of a crucial budget vote.
The leader of a far-right party has returned to Israel’s government as national security minister after a wave of strikes that killed more than 400 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Itamar Ben-Gvir had left Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition in January in protest over the ceasefire with Hamas, which was shattered by Israel’s bombardment on Tuesday.
Mr Netanyahu said the attack was “only the beginning” and that Israel would press ahead until it achieves all of its war aims – destroying Hamas and freeing all hostages held by the militant group since its attack on Israel on October 7 2023 ignited the fighting.
Zaher al-Waheidi, head of the ministry’s records department, described it as the deadliest day in Gaza since the start of the war.
The return of Mr Ben-Gvir, leader of the ultranationalist Jewish Power party, strengthens Mr Netanyahu’s coalition ahead of a crucial budget vote this month and improves its chances of surviving until the next scheduled elections in October 2026.
Mr Ben-Gvir supports the full resumption of the war with the aim of annihilating Hamas, depopulating Gaza through what he refers to as the voluntary migration of Palestinians, and rebuilding Jewish settlements there.
Jorge Moreira da Silva, head of the UN Office for Project Services, said the cause of Wednesday’s blast remains unclear but that an explosive ordnance was “dropped or fired”.
Thousands of Israelis have marched in Jerusalem to protest against the resumption of the war in the Gaza Strip, fearing it could further endanger some two dozen hostages held by Hamas.
A sea of Israeli flags could be seen outside the Israeli Parliament a day after the fragile ceasefire was shattered by heavy strikes on Gaza.
Families and supporters of the hostages fear renewed fighting could be a death sentence for their loved ones in captivity.
The hostages “are waiting for us to take them out and to bring them home, but war will not do it. Only negotiations will do it,” protester Alon Shirizly said.
Hamas is still holding 59 hostages, including 24 who are believed to be alive.
The demonstrators are also protesting against Mr Netanyahu’s plan to fire the head of Israel’s internal security agency, the latest in a series of moves that his critics view as an assault on Israeli democracy.
French President Emmanuel Macron said Israel’s air strikes are “tragic step backwards” for the Palestinian people and for Gaza, as well as for Israeli hostages and their families.
Mr Macron, speaking alongside Jordan’s King Abdullah II on a visit to France, called for an immediate end to hostilities and resumption of negotiations including with the US administration toward a permanent ceasefire and the release of all hostages.
The two leaders were also expected to discuss the need to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza and restoring access to water and electricity in the Palestinian territory, Macron’s office said.
