One Israeli cabinet minister was barred from a hospital visitors' entrance.
Whatever ensues, a day of judgment looms for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after a record-long career of political comebacks.
Amotz Asa-El, research fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, predicted a similar fate for Netanyahu and his long-dominant, conservative Likud party.
All that matters is what 'middle Israelis' think - which is that this is a fiasco and that the prime minister is responsible," Asa-El told Reuters.
An opinion poll in Maariv newspaper found that 21% of Israelis want Netanyahu to remain prime minister after the war.
Persons:
Benjamin Netanyahu, Golda Meir, Amotz Asa, Shalom Hartman, Netanyahu, Asa, El, Benny Gantz
Organizations:
Labour, Shalom, Shalom Hartman Institute, Likud, Reuters, National Unity
Locations:
Meir's, Jerusalem, Maariv