ANKARA (NET) - The Israeli Knesset, or parliament, late Thursday approved an emergency unity government under Benjamin Netanyahu’s premiership at a special Knesset plenum session.

As part of the deal Netanyahu struck with his political rival Benny Gantz, the new war cabinet includes National Unity alliance deputies Benny Gantz, Gadi Eisenkot, Gideon Sa’ar, Chili Tropper, and Yifat Shasha-Biton.

"The unity we’re building today sends a message of great power," Prime Minister Netanyahu said during the session, promising to "shatter Hamas into pieces."

Gideon Sa’ar, one of the five deputies sworn in as ministers, also said, “We really are united and will work together because we are all brothers and sisters. In the face of this danger, should we not step up?”

However, Yesh Atid (There is a Future) Party leader Yair Lapid had refused to join the unity government but his party voted for the war cabinet.

Hamas’s armed wing launched an unprecedented, multi-front assault namely Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on Israel Saturday morning.

In retaliation for Hamas’s multi-front assault, Israeli army launched Operation Swords of Iron against the militant group targets within the Gaza Strip.

More than 2,700 people have been killed since the outbreak of the conflict.