According to Israeli media, about 350 writers, poets and editors have signed a letter calling on the Israeli leadership to end the onslaught in Gaza, Al Jazeera reports.

The signatories accuse the prime minister of extending the conflict for a personal political calculus as the “war’s end would mean the end of his rule – and his freedom as a criminal defendant”, reads an extract of the letter reported by the Times of Israel newspaper.

“For the sake of his liberty, fearful of incarceration for his pending indictments, the prime minister continues to rob the hostages of their freedom, endanger IDF soldiers, and inflict disproportionate harm on Gaza’s civilian population — all while escalating a constitutional coup within Israel,” it added.