Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid called for fresh elections amid the ongoing attacks on the Gaza Strip, Anadolu Agency reports.

“[Benjamin] Netanyahu cannot continue as prime minister,” Lapid told Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper. “Elections can be held during the war.”

This was the first time for an Israeli opposition leader to call for holding fresh elections during the attacks in the besieged enclave.

A recent opinion poll by the Lazar Research Institute for Israeli daily Maariv found that only 27 per cent of Israelis believe that Netanyahu is the right person to run the government.

The survey found that 49pc of Israelis, or about half, believe that Benny Gantz, leader of the National Unity Party, is the best figure to lead the country’s government.