(JNS) Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid issued a call for a national unity government in the wake of the massive offensive by Hamas on Saturday in order “to conduct the difficult, complex and protracted campaign before us.”

Lapid made his announcement after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at 5:15pm on Saturday to receive a security briefing.

“The State of Israel is at war. It will not be an easy war and it will not be a short war,” Lapid said. “It has strategic consequences the likes of which we have not seen for many, many years. There is a great risk that it will turn into a multi-front war.”

The opposition leader said establishing an emergency unity government will send a message to Israel’s enemies and the world that Israel stands united behind the IDF and the security establishment.

Lapid also took aim at members of Netanyahu’s current coalition.

“Netanyahu knows that with the extreme and dysfunctional composition of the current Cabinet, it is impossible to wage war. The State of Israel needs to be led by a professional, experienced and responsible political echelon,” he said.

“I have no doubt that former Defence Minister Benny Gantz [the head of the National Unity political alliance] will also join such a government,” Lapid said.

At 11:30am, Netanyahu issued an address from the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv.

“We are at war, not in an operation or in rounds [of violence], but at war. This morning, Hamas launched a murderous surprise attack against the State of Israel and its citizens. We have been in this since the early morning hours,” he said.

Hamas killed more than 100 Israelis in the attack that began early Saturday morning, which included firing rockets and sending dozens of Palestinian terrorists to infiltrate the Jewish state.

More than a thousand Israelis were evacuated to hospitals across the country, almost half to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva and many to Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon.