As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition faces a crisis over military service exemptions, the opposition has moved to dissolve the Israeli Knesset. Party leaders announced they will bring a bill to dissolve the parliament to a vote today, aiming to pave the way for early elections.

In a joint statement released after a meeting in the Knesset, opposition parties declared their intention to introduce the dissolution bill during today’s session. “The decision was made unanimously and is binding on all opposition factions. It was also decided, in coordination with all opposition groups, to withdraw other legislative proposals from the agenda and focus all our efforts on overthrowing the government,” the statement read.

Government expected to stall

In response to the opposition’s move, the government is expected to try and delay the vote by filling the agenda with its own legislative proposals, effectively slowing down the process. For the bill to become law, it must pass a preliminary vote today, followed by three more rounds of voting in the plenary session.

The right-wing coalition, led by Prime Minister Netanyahu, holds 68 seats in the 120-seat Knesset. The support of the ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism, is crucial for the opposition’s dissolution proposal to advance.

Both parties have publicly stated they will vote “yes” on the dissolution bill because the government failed to pass legislation that would grant military service exemptions to yeshiva students. However, behind the scenes, it is reported that the Shas party, in particular, is working intensively to postpone the vote and prevent the government’s collapse.

Netanyahu leaves corruption trial early

Amid these developments, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s cross-examination in his ongoing corruption trial in Tel Aviv ended unexpectedly early. It was announced that Netanyahu left the hearing about an hour after his testimony began, stating that he was not feeling well.

Netanyahu is expected to engage in intensive diplomatic efforts throughout the day to de-escalate the crises. The potential loss of support from the ultra-Orthodox parties stands out as the most significant threat that could lead to early elections.

Possibility of early elections

If the dissolution bill passes today’s preliminary vote, it must still go through three more votes in the Knesset to become law. However, if the ultra-Orthodox parties do not withdraw their support from the government, the opposition’s push for an early election may fail for now. All eyes are on the stance of Shas and United Torah Judaism in the vote, as well as the political moves Netanyahu will make during the day.

The Israeli navy targeted the Houthi-controlled Hodeidah Port in Yemen early this morning, marking the first naval assault by warships against the group since October 7.

A statement from the Israeli military indicated that the strike was a response to repeated missile and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attacks launched by the Houthis against Israeli territory. The statement alleged that Hodeidah Port is a “center for weapons transfers” and argued that the attack’s goal was to prevent the port’s use for military purposes.

Recalling that the port was also targeted by Israel last year, the announcement added, “The port continues to be used for terrorist purposes.” It was specified that the attack aimed to deepen the destruction at Hodeidah Port.

Following the naval assault, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant declared, “Israel’s long arm in the air and at sea will reach everywhere. We have warned the Houthis that if they continue to attack Israel, we will respond forcefully and place them under a sea and air blockade.”

Nasreddin Amir, a senior Houthi official, confirmed the attack in a post on X, stating that Israeli naval units had targeted the port in Hodeidah with two missiles.

The Houthis in Yemen have periodically targeted Israel with ballistic missiles since it resumed intense attacks on the Gaza Strip, breaking a ceasefire agreement. The group launched another missile toward Israel yesterday; however, it fell before reaching its target, and no sirens were activated. The last time sirens were triggered was last Thursday.

After October 7, the Houthis were also subjected to joint attacks by the US and the United Kingdom. However, US President Joe Biden, after taking office, first increased the intensity of attacks against the Houthis and then declared a ceasefire without informing Israel.

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution on Gaza has been vetoed by the US for the fifth time. Hamas stated that the US’s use of its veto power signifies direct support for Israel’s “genocide against Palestinian civilians.”

A draft resolution submitted to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) calling for a ceasefire in Gaza was vetoed by the US, citing the resolution’s failure to condemn Hamas.

This veto marked the first instance of the US exercising this power in the UNSC during the Donald Trump administration and was the fifth US veto of a resolution concerning the Gaza war, which commenced in October 2023.

The UNSC had similarly failed to pass resolutions in previous ceasefire attempts.

The UNSC convened to discuss the Gaza resolution, which was endorsed by the council’s 10 elected members (E10) and presented on the preceding day by Slovenia, the group’s coordinator.

During the subsequent vote, the US exercised its veto power on the ceasefire resolution, which had been introduced due to the dire humanitarian situation.

The resolution, proposing urgent intervention for civilians in Gaza amidst ongoing Israeli attacks, was rejected by the US, a permanent member with veto authority, despite receiving 14 affirmative votes in the recently concluded ballot.

US Representative Dorothy Shea justified the veto, stating, “Our opposition to this resolution should come as no surprise. It is unacceptable for what it contains, what it does not contain, and the way it was put forward.” Shea added, “The US has clearly stated it will not support any measure that does not condemn Hamas.”

“Fourteen affirmative votes carry a strong message”

Evaluating the US veto on behalf of the E10 group, Slovenia’s UN Permanent Representative Samuel Zbogar remarked, “The resolution was not adopted. However, fourteen affirmative votes carry a strong message.”

Zbogar emphasized that the US veto prevented the Council from acting, stating, “When faced with a choice between abandoning the rules that have guided the international community for 80 years and the right to veto, we chose humanity.”

He noted their awareness of differing stances within the UNSC, explaining their decision to focus the draft resolution solely on the humanitarian crisis. “We thought the Council should unite around this urgent demand for unhindered humanitarian access and the delivery of food to starving civilians,” Zbogar added.

The Slovenian Representative stressed that starving civilians and inflicting “immense” suffering upon them is “inhumane and contrary to international law.” He remarked, “No war aim can justify such an act. We hoped and expected this to be our common understanding.”

Hamas: US supports crimes against humanity

Hamas asserted that the US veto of the UNSC Gaza resolution constitutes direct support for Israel’s “genocide against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.”

A written statement from Hamas condemned the US veto, which single-handedly blocked the draft resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza submitted to the UNSC.

The statement read, “The US veto represents Washington’s blind bias towards the fascist occupation government and confirms its support for the crimes against humanity it is committing in the Gaza Strip.”

Highlighting Washington’s disregard for international law, the statement described the veto as an “arrogant stance reflecting a complete rejection of any international effort to stop the shedding of Palestinian blood.”

The statement further assessed, “The US stance means a green light for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a war criminal sought by the International Criminal Court (ICC), to continue his brutal genocidal war against innocent civilians, including children, women, and the elderly, in the Gaza Strip, and reveals its full complicity in the crime Israel continues to commit.”

Hamas noted in its statement: “The UNSC’s failure to stop the 20-month-long war, break the siege, or allow food aid to enter has raised fundamental questions about the role of international community institutions and the effectiveness of international laws and conventions that Israel continues to violate daily without any accountability or effective action against it.”

The statement urged the international community to “act urgently against this moral and political collapse, to immediately stop the genocidal war, and to pressure Israeli leaders to be held accountable for the crimes they committed against the Palestinian people.”

Resolution submitted by 10 elected UNSC members

The resolution proposing urgent intervention in Gaza was submitted to the UNSC presidency on the previous day by its 10 elected member countries (E10), with a vote requested for the current day.

The resolution highlighted the further deterioration of the civilian population’s situation in Gaza following Israel’s resumption of attacks in March.

The E10 group stated they had prepared a concise draft resolution expressing “serious concerns” about the situation in Gaza, including the risk of famine, and reaffirming that all parties must comply with their obligations under international law.

Countries that endorsed the resolution include Algeria, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Panama, Pakistan, South Korea, Sierra Leone, and Somalia, with Slovenia serving as the E10 coordinator.