On Thursday, the National Unity Party, headed by Israeli war government minister Benny Gantz, submitted a draft law to dissolve the Knesset (Parliament) and hold early elections.

The party said in a statement: “The head of the National Unity parliamentary bloc, Knesset member Panina Tamno Sheeta, presented a draft law to dissolve the 25th Knesset.”

It added: "This comes as a continuation of the movement led by party leader Minister Benny Gantz to reach elections with broad consensus, until next October, a year after the massacre," referring to the Hamas attack on settlements adjacent to the Gaza Strip.

Tamno Sheeta explained, “The October 7 disaster requires us to return and gain the trust of the people to form a broad and stable unity government that can lead us safely in the face of the enormous challenges in security, the economy, and above all, in Israeli society,” according to the same source.

The draft law must be approved by a majority of 3 readings before it becomes law, while the date for putting it to a vote was not immediately decided.

Netanyahu's government has 64 seats out of the 120 Knesset seats, which can thwart the bill.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly announced in recent months his refusal to hold elections in light of the war.

The results of an opinion poll published by Hebrew media in recent months showed that if early elections were held, Gantz's party would advance over the "Likud" led by Netanyahu.

70 percent of Israelis also supported holding early elections for the Knesset, according to the results of an opinion poll published by the Hebrew Broadcasting Authority a week ago.