Israel forms emergency government as deaths surpass 1,200

By ARIELLA MARSDEN

An emergency government was formed on Wednesday afternoon after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and National Unity leader Benny Gantz met at the IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv earlier in the morning.

The meeting lasted half an hour after which lawyers representing the Likud and National Unity stayed behind to finalize the details.

As part of the deal, Gantz and fellow party member Gadi Eisenkot will be sworn in as ministers and will join a war cabinet with Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

There has been a widespread call for an emergency government in Israel since Netanyahu declared war on Hamas on Saturday following their massive attack on Israel that morning.

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By JERUSALEM POST STAFF

Some 81 families of hostages kidnapped by Hamas have been contacted by the government as of Wednesday afternoon, according to the government’s coordinator of hostages and missing persons.

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By JERUSALEM POST STAFF

Residents of Zikim and Karmia near the Gaza border were directed to shelter in place due to a security incident on Wednesday afternoon.

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By JERUSALEM POST STAFF

UK Foreign Minister James Cleverly visited Ofakim alongside his Israeli counterpart and met with the families of people being held hostage by Hamas on Wednesday.

Cohen thanked Cleverly for his support and solidarity, saying “these solidarity visits strengthen international support for Israel and expose the visitors to the atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists.”

Cleverly is set to meet with President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later in the day.

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By JERUSALEM POST STAFF

A direct rocket hit was reported on a school in Sderot, southern Israel, the municipality said.

Damage was done but no injuries were caused.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF

Israeli residents of Eskhol Regional Council were asked to stay indoors following a suspected security situation unfolding, according to the local council on Wednesday.

The regional council later lifted the threat.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF, REUTERS

The Hezbollah terrorist movement warned on Wednesday that it considers the US a “full partner” with Israel in the ongoing war launched by Hamas this week, saying it was “not frightened” by the entry of a US aircraft carrier to the area.

“We consider the United States a full partner in the Zionist aggression and hold it fully responsible for the killing, criminality, siege, destruction of homes, and horrific massacres against defenseless civilians, including children, women, and the elderly,” said Hezbollah.

“We call on the masses of our Arab and Islamic nation, which knows the ugly truth of America and its aggression against the peoples of our nation in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan, to condemn the American intervention and its international and regional partners and to expose this intervention at all political, popular, media, and legal levels and in various regional and international forums and gatherings.”

This is a developing story.

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By REUTERS

Egypt has discussed plans with the United States and other countries to provide humanitarian aid through its border with the Gaza Strip under a limited ceasefire, two Egyptian security sources said on Wednesday.

The aid would pass through the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Qatar and Turkey were also involved in the discussions, they said. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said late on Tuesday that the US had been holding consultations with Israel and Egypt about the idea of a safe passage for Gaza civilians.

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By JERUSALEM POST STAFF

Hospitals in northern Israel will transfer patients to hospitals in central Israel in order to allow hospitals in the north to prepare for a possible escalation along the northern front, the Health Ministry said Wednesday.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF

Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon was hit by a rocket during a barrage on Wednesday, according to Israeli media.

While damage was caused, no injuries were reported.

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