Israel’s war cabinet, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and former Defence Minister Benny Gantz, has reconvened for the second consecutive day. The cabinet discussions centred on how to respond to Iran’s attack, marking the first direct strike on Israel.
In the aftermath of the attack, the nation’s five-person war cabinet convened for over three hours on Sunday to agree on a fitting response. No definitive decision emerged as the discussions drew to a close.
Iran’s unprecedented assault saw the launch of approximately 350 ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones towards Israeli targets. Despite the scale of the attack, the IDF intercepted the vast majority of the incoming projectiles, mitigating potential damage.
The majority of the missiles and drones were intercepted with assistance from allies such as the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Jordan.
Despite the Iranian strikes resulting in minimal damage with no deaths, Israel views the attack as a significant breach of its security and deterrence. President Joe Biden, in direct communication with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, advised careful and strategic contemplation before any decisive action. Israeli officials claim that a response to Iran’s attack is inevitable. Despite the lack of consensus within the war cabinet, there is a prevailing sentiment in favour of retaliation against Iran.
Statements from Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and former Defence Minister Benny Gantz suggest that an immediate direct retaliation against Tehran may not be imminent. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to formalise a response strategy, indicating a careful assessment of the situation’s complexities.