An Israeli airstrike killed 20 people in central Gaza, mostly women and children, while conflict continued to escalate. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced criticism from his own War Cabinet, with Benny Gantz threatening to leave the government if a plan was not established by June 8, including an international administration for postwar Gaza. US national security adviser Jake Sullivan was set to meet with Israeli leaders to discuss an ambitious US plan for Saudi Arabia to recognize Israel and assist in governance of Gaza in exchange for a path to statehood.
Despite discussions on postwar planning, the war still raged on with Hamas regrouping in parts of northern Gaza that had been heavily bombed earlier. Airstrikes in the central Gaza refugee camp of Nuseirat resulted in the deaths of 20 people, while separate strikes in the area caused further casualties. Heavy fighting and airstrikes continued in northern Gaza, where a famine had been reported. The intensity of the conflict made conditions extremely difficult for civilians as homes were destroyed and fatalities increased.
Civil Defense efforts were hindered by airstrikes hitting multiple homes and causing widespread destruction and loss of life. The ongoing war, which began after Hamas initiated an attack in October, had displaced 80% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents multiple times and led to the deaths of thousands. The offensive was blamed on Hamas by Israel, who accused the militant group of using civilians as human shields and operating in civilian areas.
Critics of Netanyahu accused him of prolonging the war and refusing a ceasefire to avoid facing scrutiny over security failures. Polls suggested that Gantz could succeed Netanyahu in the event of early elections, potentially leading to Netanyahu facing corruption allegations. Netanyahu emphasized the need to dismantle Hamas and secure the release of hostages before discussing postwar arrangements but faced pressure from the US over the conduct of the conflict.
The US had expressed concern over Israel’s offensive but approved a sale of arms after Israel launched a limited operation. Efforts were made to establish a plan for Saudi Arabia to recognize Israel and participate in Gaza’s governance in exchange for a US defense pact and support for a civilian nuclear program. However, Netanyahu’s rejection of a credible path to Palestinian statehood remained a point of contention. Gantz emphasized the need to avoid the imposition of a Palestinian state by external powers while expressing support for normalizing ties with Arab countries.
