Increasing Pressure on Netanyahu... Opposition Calls for Knesset Meeting

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir announced today, Monday, that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will lose the mandate to continue his role as Prime Minister if he ends the war without launching a ground military operation in the city of Rafah in southern Gaza. Additionally, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich urged Netanyahu to convene the Cabinet immediately. In his address to Netanyahu, Smotrich stated, "I demand a special discussion; the expanded Cabinet will meet this evening where we will receive a complete update and all information regarding the war situation." He argued that the expanded government is authorized to make critical decisions during wartime. According to Israeli media, "Smotrich wants to make decisions regarding the prisoner exchange and the Rafah operation in the small ministerial council, not in the war council." Meanwhile, Israeli Channel 12 reported that the Israeli opposition has called for an emergency Knesset session to discuss the Israeli war on Gaza, a potential agreement with Hamas, a ceasefire, and the increasing risks of a war with Iran.