[1] The opposition party National Unity joined the thirty-seventh government led by Benjamin Netanyahu as prime minister.

[2] On 13 June 2024, former Chiefs of the General Staff Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot exited the war cabinet,[3] leaving Netanyahu, Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, Ron Dermer and Aryeh Deri as its only members.

[9] Palestinian militants broke through the Gaza–Israel barrier and forced their way through Gaza border crossings, attacking nearby Israeli communities and military installations.

[11] The war represents a tipping point in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and the Gaza–Israel conflict, which followed a violent year that saw increased expansion of Israeli settlements and clashes in Jenin, Al-Aqsa mosque, and Gaza, which killed almost 250 Palestinians and 36 Israelis;[b][14] Hamas cited these events as justification for the attack and called on Palestinians to join the fight to "expel the occupiers and demolish the walls".

[15][16][17] In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared states of emergency and war, vowing a "mighty vengeance for this dark day".

Levi Eshkol and then-opposition leader Menachem Begin joined hands for the duration of the War in the thirteenth government of Israel.

[28] On 16 October, Netanyahu's Likud party announced that Yisrael Beiteinu, led by Avigdor Lieberman, had agreed to join the emergency government.

[32] Sa'ar announced in March that he was leaving the National Unity alliance and called to be appointed to the war cabinet, to which Gantz expressed opposition.