CNN —Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lambasted his Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Monday and accused him of adopting an “anti-Israel narrative,” revealing a deep rupture at the top of the Israeli government as the Middle East risks spiraling into a full-scale regional conflict. “When Gallant adopts the anti-Israel narrative, he harms the chances of reaching a hostage deal,” the prime minister’s office said in a statement. Critics have accused Netanyahu of being more interested in defeating Hamas and preserving his government than returning the hostages. He has previously called on Netanyahu to declare that Israel would not establish civilian or military control over Gaza, although the prime minister has remained vague on his plans for the “day after” the war. “The conditions today for a Lebanon war are the opposite of what they were at the beginning of the war,” Gallant reportedly told lawmakers.

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Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, Gallant, ”, Saul Loeb, Ismail Haniyeh, Fu’ad Shukr, Haniyeh’s, Haniyeh, Netanyahu, –, Joe Biden, ” Gallant, Yahya, Sinwar, Daniel Hagari, “ Organizations: CNN, Israeli, US State Department, Getty Images, Qatari, ” CNN, American Enterprise, Institute for Locations: Israel, Gaza, Iran, Lebanon, United States, Washington ,, Getty Images Iran, Tehran, Beirut, of Israel, Egypt, Qatar, Cairo, Doha