"Netanyahu Faces Calls for Immediate Resignation Over Gaza Retaliation: Opposition Leader Lapid Urges Change Amid Criticism and Security Concerns.

 Summary 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces criticism from within Israel for indiscriminately targeting Gaza in retaliation for Hamas's October 7 attack. Read full article 

Opposition leader Yair Lapid is calling for Netanyahu's immediate resignation, demanding a vote of no confidence in parliament to establish a new administration under a different prime minister. 

Lapid deems Netanyahu's response to the October 7 attack and the security system's failure as "unpardonable." 

He rejects the emergency government deal and proposes rebuilding under a new Likud party leader. Likud dismisses the idea, terming it "shameful" during a "time of war." 

The UN Security Council has called for the unconditional release of Gaza detainees and humanitarian measures, emphasizing protection for civilians, especially children.

Details 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under fire from Israel for targeting Gaza randomly in retaliation for Hamas's October 7 attack, and Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid has called for Netanyahu to resign "immediately."

Lapid demanded that the parliament hold a vote of no confidence, paving the way for the establishment of a new administration headed by a different prime minister.

Netanyahu needs to go right now. Lapid stated on Wednesday in an interview with an Israeli television programme, "We need change, Netanyahu cannot be prime minister.

For their inability to stop the October 7 attack, Lapid calls Netanyahu and the security system he oversees "unpardonable failures."

"We can't let a prime minister who has lost the public's trust lead us on a protracted campaign," he declared.

Lapid declined to participate in the deal made by Netanyahu and another opposition leader, Benny Gantz, to create a "emergency government" for the length of the war, four days after Hamas's unexpected attack on Israel on October 7.

For the first time, Lapid has demanded that Netanyahu resign, arguing that the country does not need immediate elections and that the parties should instead choose to rebuild the country under the leadership of another prime minister from Netanyahu's Likud party.

Likud swiftly rejected the idea in a Telegram statement, calling it "shameful" to make such a proposal during a "time of war."

Since Israel started shelling the besieged enclave on October 7, more than 11,500 Palestinians have died. This occurred after Hamas launched an unexpected offensive on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of nearly 1,200 people and the capture of more than 200.

In a resolution passed on Wednesday, the UN Security Council demanded the unconditional release of prisoners detained in Gaza, as well as "urgent and extended humanitarian pauses and corridors throughout the Gaza Strip" to facilitate the delivery of aid and medical evacuations.

 It also called for "corridors throughout the Gaza Strip for a sufficient number of days" to protect civilians, especially children.