Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence chief and centrist opposition party leader Benny Gantz have agreed to form an emergency government.

This was disclosed in a joint statement from Gantz’s National Unity party on Wednesday.

DAILY POST reported that gunmen from Islamist group Hamas invaded Israel from the Gaza Strip on Saturday in a surprise assault that killed at least 1,200 people.

The attack has been declared the deadliest Palestinian militant attack in Israeli history.

However, Israel has also responded with a massive bombardment of Gaza that has killed 1,055.

It also deployed thousands of troops around the enclave amid growing expectations it will launch a ground invasion to destroy Hamas.

On Wednesday, the Israeli sides agreed to form a war cabinet comprising Netanyahu, Gantz and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.

The statement said during the fighting with Hamas in Gaza, both parties will not promote any unrelated policy or laws.

Meanwhile, opposition leader Yair Lapid was not expected to join the emergency government at this stage.