Title: Coalition Revolt Threatens Netanyahu’s Balancing Act in Gaza Fuel Crisis
Word Count: 335
Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, is facing a serious challenge within his government coalition over his decision to allow the daily delivery of two fuel trucks into the besieged Gaza Strip. This move has sparked a revolt among some religious nationalists and settler leaders within the coalition.
Their demand is clear: no humanitarian concessions or fuel deliveries to Gaza until Hamas, the ruling party in the strip, releases the Israeli hostages it seized back in October. In response to these mounting pressures, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called for the expansion of the war cabinet to include all seven parties in the coalition government.
Netanyahu finds himself between a rock and a hard place as he attempts to satisfy the demands of his far-right coalition partners while also responding to the pressure from Western allies to alleviate the humanitarian crisis faced by Gaza’s civilians. The majority of Palestinians in Gaza heavily rely on humanitarian aid, including fuel, for basic necessities such as clean water, sewage systems, and telecommunications.
Those in favor of allowing the limited amount of fuel into Gaza argue that it is necessary to prevent a complete breakdown of the already fragile infrastructure, which could result in a full-blown humanitarian catastrophe.
Adding to Netanyahu’s troubles, President Joe Biden has expressed his frustration with the slow progress of negotiations and the humanitarian pauses in the conflict. This puts further strain on Netanyahu’s ability to maintain unity among his coalition partners, with some making controversial statements about the ongoing conflict and the Palestinian people.
While tensions are running high, it is unlikely that any of the coalition parties will walk out of the government, as this would trigger snap elections. However, recent polls suggest that if elections were to be held today, Netanyahu’s coalition would underperform compared to rival Benny Gantz, who is gaining more support as a potential prime minister.
As the pressure mounts and the fuel crisis in Gaza worsens, it remains to be seen how Netanyahu will navigate these internal divisions and address the urgent needs of Gaza’s suffering population while staying true to the demands of his coalition partners.
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