Israel's war-time cabinet vows to "smash" Hamas

Photo taken on Oct. 11, 2023 shows a building damaged in rocket attacks from Gaza, in Ashkelon, Israel. (Ilan Assayag/JINI via Xinhua)

JERUSALEM, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Israel's new wartime cabinet vowed on Wednesday to continue the military operation in the Gaza Strip until "Hamas is toppled and destroyed."

It was the first statement by the new emergency unity government, which was formed earlier on Wednesday as Benny Gantz, an opposition leader and former defense minister of Israel, joined Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ultranationalist-religious coalition government.

In an address broadcast to the nation, Gantz vowed to deal "decisively" with Hamas.

"We will smash and destroy Hamas," Netanyahu said.

The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday launched a surprise attack on southern Israeli towns adjacent to the Gaza Strip, prompting Israel to launch retaliatory strikes on Gaza.

As of Wednesday, more than 2,000 people have been killed and thousands of others injured on both sides.

Photo taken on Oct. 11, 2023 shows a wall damaged in rocket attacks from Gaza, in Ashkelon, Israel. (Ilan Assayag/JINI via Xinhua)

Photo taken on Oct. 11, 2023 shows a building damaged in rocket attacks from Gaza, in Ashkelon, Israel. (Ilan Assayag/JINI via Xinhua)

Photo taken on Oct. 11, 2023 shows a building damaged in rocket attacks from Gaza, in Ashkelon, Israel. (Ilan Assayag/JINI via Xinhua)

Photo taken on Oct. 11, 2023 shows a wall damaged in rocket attacks from Gaza, in Ashkelon, Israel. (Ilan Assayag/JINI via Xinhua)

Photo taken on Oct. 11, 2023 shows a wall damaged in rocket attacks from Gaza, in Ashkelon, Israel. (Ilan Assayag/JINI via Xinhua)

People inspect buildings destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Oct. 11, 2023. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)

Smoke billows following an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Oct. 11, 2023. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)

Smoke billows following an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Oct. 11, 2023. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)

Smoke billows following an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Oct. 11, 2023. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)

People inspect buildings destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Oct. 11, 2023. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)

Smoke rises following an Israeli strike on the port of Gaza City, on Oct. 11, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Smoke billows following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on Oct. 11, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

A boy walks past buildings destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City, on Oct. 11, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

A girl walks past buildings destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City, on Oct. 11, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Palestinians walk past buildings destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City, on Oct. 11, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

A Palestinian man walks past buildings destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City, on Oct. 11, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Smoke billows following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on Oct. 11, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

A Palestinian woman walks past buildings destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City, on Oct. 11, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

A boy pushes a cart as he walks past buildings destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City, on Oct. 11, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Smoke billows following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on Oct. 11, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

A Palestinian man walks past buildings destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City, on Oct. 11, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

A Palestinian man stands near a building destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on Oct. 11, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Smoke billows following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on Oct. 11, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Palestinians walk past buildings destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City, on Oct. 11, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Palestinians walk past buildings destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City, on Oct. 11, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)