Tel Aviv, 12 October 2023 (dpa/MIA) - Israel's parliament has approved the formation of an emergency government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and leading opposition politician Benny Gantz, Israeli media reported on Thursday evening.

Gantz and four other members of the opposition are expected to join the government.

The agreement foresees Netanyahu, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and former defence minister Gantz forming a war cabinet.

Former chief of the general staff Gadi Eizenkot and senior Likud official Ron Dermer are to serve as observers.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid said he would not join the emergency government but that his party supports the war on Hamas.

Observers say a broad coalition is needed to push through far-reaching military and political decisions in the coming days.

Hamas insurgents carried out massacres last Saturday, killing more than 1,200 people in Israeli border towns and at a music festival, and injuring 3,391. Around 150 people were captured and are being held hostage in the Gaza Strip.

Israel has responded with a heavy air bombardment of Gaza. More than 1,400 Palestinians were killed and more than 6,200 were wounded in Israeli attacks, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

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