Benny Gantz resigns from Israeli war cabinet as Gaza death count rises

Gaza’s health ministry says the Israeli operation to rescue four hostages on Saturday killed at least 274 Palestinians and wounded almost 700.

Israeli forces fought intense gun battles with Hamas in and around the Nuseirat refugee camp, backed by air strikes, as they freed the captives. Hamas’ armed wing says three Israeli hostages were also killed during the operation – one of them a US citizen.

This comes as Benny Gantz has announced that he is leaving the emergency unity government. He said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is preventing real victory and called on him to set a date for elections.