Buildings destroyed after Israel's airstrikes in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday (Photo: THX/VNA)

The main opposition leaders, former Prime Minister Yair Lapid and former Defence Minister Benny Gantz, agreed in principle to the proposal as Israeli and Hamas forces entered the fourth day of their conflicts, with countless casualties on both sides and no sign of de-escalation.

Observers said the agreement by political parties that are normally deeply hostile to one another underlines the scale of the crisis.

“An emergency unity government now!” Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who represents a hard right party close to the West Bank Jewish settler movement, posted on social media.

Meanwhile, in a statement on Saturday, opposition leader Lapid said he informed Prime Minister Netanyahu that he was willing to put political differences aside and establish together with him a professional, limited emergency government, which will manage the difficult, complex and protracted campaign before them.