Netanyahu urges 'unity', calls on Gantz to stay in emergency wartime government

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is facing mounting pressure to agree to a ceasefire deal, has asked his war cabinet minister Gantz to not leave the emergency wartime government and "remain united."

Netanyahu's post on X on Saturday (June 8), when translated in English, read, "This is the time for unity and not for division. We must remain united within ourselves in the face of the great tasks before us. I call on Benny Gantz - do not leave the emergency government. Don't give up on unity."

Multiple Israeli media outlets reported thatGantz postponed the presser scheduled for Saturday where he was speculated to make an announcement of his resignation from Netanyahu's emergency government.

WION's correspondent in Israel confirmed that the presser by Gantz where he was due to make an announcement has now been canceled because of the hostages' rescue, a development which was a major sigh of relief for many Israelis who are demanding the prompt release of Israeli captives by Hamas.

Israeli forces successfully rescued four hostages from the Nuseirat refugee camp in Gaza on Saturday.

210 Palestinians killed amid rescue: Hamas

The rescue operation, which took place amid intense conflict, left 210 Palestinians dead and hundreds injured, according to reports from the Hamas-run government.

The al Qassam Brigades, Hamas's military wing, confirmed the rescue in a Telegram post.

Spokesman Abu Ubaida stated, "The enemy was able, by committing horrific massacres, to free some of its prisoners, but at the same time it killed some of them during the operation."

He further warned that the operation could endanger remaining hostages, saying, "The operation will pose a great danger to the enemy prisoners and will have a devastating impact on their conditions and lives."

The Israeli military reported that the four rescued hostages - Noa Argamani, 26, Almog Meir Jan, 22, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 41 - were in good medical condition. They were taken during Hamas's attack on the Nova music festivalon October 7, an event that triggered the ongoing war in Gaza.

An Israel Defence Forces source told Sky News that the hostages were held in "residential buildings in the midst of civilian population." "As far as I know, they were all Hamas operatives. Sounds convenient for Hamas to say that they are not after the hostages were rescued," the said source revealed.

Currently, 116 hostages remain in Gaza, including 41 that the Israeli army believes are dead.

(With inputs from agencies)