Liberman's Yisrael Beytenu petitions for emergency Knesset debate on Gaza takeover

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As the Knesset is currently in recess, the party's motion will require at least 25 MKs' signatures, but opposition parties have agreed in principle to sign the request.

Yisrael Beytenu, led by former defense minister MK Avigdor Liberman, is seeking an urgent debate in the Knesset to discuss the updated plan to invade and occupy Gaza City, the party confirmed to The Jerusalem Post on Sunday.

The plan was proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and approved by the Security Cabinet last week.

As the Knesset is currently in recess, the party's motion will require at least 25 MKs' signatures.

Opposition parties have agreed in principle to sign the request.

The debate may be held as early as next week.

Religious Zionist Party against decision to occupy Gaza City

Finance Minister and Religious Zionist Party (RZP) leader Bezalel Smotrich and RZP MK Zvi Sukkot threatened elections on Sunday in protest against Thursday's Security Cabinet decision to occupy Gaza City.

The three RZP ministers, Smotrich, Aliyah and Integration Minister Ofir Sofer, and National Missions Minister Orit Strock, all decided not to attend Sunday's cabinet meeting in protest against the Security Cabinet's decision.

Amid these developments and apparent growing disagreements between RZP and Netanyahu, opposition leader and Yesh Atid chairman MK Yair Lapid petitioned Smotrich to dissolve the government.

Lapid said that the chairman of a party in the coalition cannot remain in the government if he does not trust the prime minister, KAN reported in a post on X that Lapid shared.

Families of Gaza hostages and victims of the October 7 massacre announced on Sunday that they would initiate a nationwide shutdown the following Sunday to protest the Security Cabinet's decision to occupy Gaza City.

Keshet Neev contributed to this report.