Following the resumption of attacks on the Gaza Strip in Israel, cracks are widening. The opposition strongly reacted, emphasizing that there were political interests behind the decision. Opposition leaders pointing out the timing of the attacks accused the Netanyahu government of “abandoning the captives.”

Opposition politicians in Israel drew attention to the resumption of attacks on Gaza in the shadow of controversial political steps, such as the dismissal of Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“PUT THE COUNTRY BACK INTO WAR” Main opposition leader Yair Lapid, in a post on X, emphasized that the public does not trust Netanyahu, who has put the country back into “war.” Referring to the “personal distrust” justification put forward by Prime Minister Netanyahu for dismissing Shin Bet Director Bar, Lapid stated that the overwhelming majority of Israeli citizens also harbor a similar “deep sense of distrust” towards the Prime Minister.

“DOES NOT CONSIDER THE FATE OF ISRAELI PRISONERS” Lapid stressed the need for a trustworthy Prime Minister only concerned with the country’s security and the fate of Israeli captives. He underlined that Netanyahu was lacking this. “POLITICAL INTERESTS BEHIND THE DECISION” National Unity Party member and former Minister of Science, Technology, and Space Orit Farkash-Hacohen highlighted the political interests behind the resumption of attacks on Gaza in a post on X. Hacohen called on the government to stop its efforts to dismiss Prosecutor Gali Baharav-Miara and Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar. “WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE ABDUCTEES?” Democrat Party member Naama Lazimi indicated the uncertainty regarding the fate of Israeli captives in Gaza with a post titled “What will happen to the abductees?” The Israeli opposition accused Prime Minister Netanyahu, who resumed attacks on Gaza, of trying to bring back former National Security Minister and far-right Itamar Ben-Gvir to the government before the 2025 budget vote. Palestinian-origin Knesset member Eiman Avde emphasized in a post that Netanyahu, by choosing “more war and destruction” while trying to bring Ben-Gvir back to the government, was pursuing a cult of blood, death, and sanctifying death.

HE HAD RESIGNED AFTER THE CEASEFIRE Ben-Gvir, a far-right politician, had resigned with other ministers from the Jewish Power Party in the cabinet after the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement began in Gaza. Ben-Gvir was insisting on returning to the government for the resumption of attacks on the Gaza Strip. ISRAELI ARMY BROKE THE CEASEFIRE The Israeli army, breaking the ceasefire, renewed its violent attacks on Gaza. After the ceasefire that entered into force on January 19 in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli army resumed its violent attacks. In the air raids carried out by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip on the morning of March 18, at least 400 people, mostly women and children, lost their lives, and over 500 Palestinians were injured. FAMILIES OF THE PRISONERS REACT The families of the Israeli captives held in the Gaza Strip accused the Netanyahu government of “abandoning the captives” by using the return of the captives as a pretext for restarting the war. Opposition parties in Israel also drew attention to the resumption of attacks under the shadow of controversial political steps such as Prime Minister Netanyahu’s dismissal of the Shin Bet Director.