Israel-Hamas War Day 248: What's happening in Gaza, Middle East?

This week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had to reign in a cabinet minister who threatened to change the status quo in a holy site in Jerusalem, threaten a “powerful” response against Hezbollah in Lebanon, and continue to manage the war on the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza - all while facing the realistic possibility of an international arrest warrant being issued against him and other Israeli officials on allegations of war crimes and deliberating a possible cease-fire deal that he would see the release of the remaining more than 120 Israeli hostages being held in the Gaza Strip. 

Meanwhile, a deadline given to him by his moderate coalition partners, Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot, is coming up and, if materialized, could signal the beginning of the end of his government, even though he continues to rely on the far-right elements of his coalition to ensure his political survival - a reliance that has also put him and Israel at odds with the United States and much of the international community. Netanyahu also faces charges of corruption in Jerusalem’s district court, and his defense is set to begin next month with his testimony. And his coalition is confronted by a major ongoing debate on a contentious exemption for ultra-Orthodox Jews from otherwise compulsory military service.