Israel Disbands War Cabinet Amid Gaza Conflict Developments

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disbanded the country's war cabinet on June 17, 2024, according to an Israeli official. The decision came just over a week after opposition leader Benny Gantz withdrew from the body. Netanyahu announced plans to award former US President Donald Trump the Israel Prize in 2026, alongside Education Minister Yoav Kisch.

The war cabinet's dissolution leaves Netanyahu's security decisions under the broader government framework. Gantz's exit on June 9 highlighted internal divisions over the Gaza strategy. No immediate replacement for the war cabinet has been announced.

The United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution on June 10, 2024, proposed by the United States, calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages held there.

The resolution passed with support from multiple member states. It marks the first such UN action endorsing a full end to hostilities since the conflict escalated. On June 13, a senior Hamas official stated that the US-backed Gaza ceasefire proposal does not meet Hamas' demands for an end to the war.

Osama Hamdan, a Hamas representative, added that no one has an idea how many of the hostages held in Gaza are alive. Hamas has held approximately 250 hostages since October 7, 2023, with over 100 believed to remain in captivity.

forces launched strikes on Al-Mawasi in southern Gaza on June 12, 2024, targeting an area previously designated as a safe zone.

The bombardment involved land, sea, and air operations, as reported by the official Palestinian news agency WAFA. At least 20 people were killed in the strikes, according to local health authorities. The Al-Mawasi area, located near Khan Younis, had been expanded by Israel as a humanitarian zone for displaced Palestinians.

Over 1 million people have sought shelter there amid ongoing evacuations. The strikes followed reports of militant activity in the vicinity.