MKs demand urgent Knesset meeting on war goals, slam Government inaction

In a letter sent on March 16, 2025, to MK Yuli Edelstein, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, the lawmakers demanded an immediate session with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz. The signatories—Gadi Eisenkot (National Unity Party), Ram Ben Barak (Yesh Atid), Meir Cohen (Yesh Atid), Elazar Stern (Yesh Atid), Moshe Tur-Paz (Yesh Atid), Sharon Nir (Yisrael Beytenu), and Merav Michaeli (The Democrats)—claim the government is stalling on critical fronts, including the return of hostages and the dismantling of Hamas.

The MKs argue that recent intelligence reveals a troubling resurgence of Hamas and Islamic Jihad’s military strength. They cite estimates that Hamas now boasts over 25,000 armed fighters, while Islamic Jihad commands around 5,000—a stark indication that efforts to neutralize these groups have faltered. The lawmakers assert that the government is not only neglecting to destroy Hamas’ military and governing capabilities but is also undermining the War Cabinet’s May 27, 2024, decisions, which prioritized hostage recovery alongside combat operations. They further point to a government resolution endorsing phases B and C of the war plan, aimed at securing the hostages’ release, which they claim is being ignored.

Adding fuel to their criticism, the MKs highlight the government’s defiance of both the Security Service Law and a Supreme Court ruling mandating the immediate draft of yeshiva students—a move they say exacerbates Israel’s security woes. “These failures are actively damaging Israel’s safety and national interests,” the letter warns, urging Edelstein to summon Netanyahu and Katz for an emergency discussion. With tensions rising over the war’s trajectory and the government’s handling of it, this push from the opposition signals a deepening rift in Israel’s political landscape at a time when unity is sorely needed.