Former Israeli PM Ehud Barak tells Netanyahu to leave 'in the name of God'

Speaking to the UK's Telegraph newspaper, former Israeli premier Ehud Barak said Israel risked "sinking in the Gaza mud for years to come” if Netanyahu continued to hold on to power.

The Israeli prime minister is widely blamed for the failures that led to the 7 October attack by Hamas-led Palestinian fighters and the military response, which has so far failed to dislodge Hamas in Gaza despite a devastating toll on civilians.

“For Hamas to win it just needs to survive," Barak said, adding that even killing the leadership of Hamas would not deal a death blow to the organisation.

“The only way is to have an election straight away," he added.