THE HAGUE (Reuters) -Judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Wednesday rejected Israel's request to withdraw arrest warrants against its prime minister and former defence minister while the ICC reviews Israeli challenges to its jurisdiction over the conduct of the Gaza war.

A key partner in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has officially withdrawn from the coalition, dealing a major blow to the official and leaving him in the minority within the Israeli parliament.

Opposition Leader Yair Lapid responded to Shas's decision to exit the government on Wednesday, stating, "In the State of Israel, as of today, there is a minority government."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government suffered a fresh setback on Wednesday as Shas, a key ultra-Orthodox party, decided to quit the ruling coalition, multiple Israeli media outlets reported.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition has lost its ruling majority after a second ultra-Orthodox party quit the government over a bill watering down a decades-long religious exemption from military service.

A highly unusual appearance from Mike Huckabee comes as President Trump has called for the long-running legal case to be suspended.

In a direct message to the Druze community of Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged restraint and warned against crossing into Syrian territory, amid escalating violence in the southwestern Syrian city of Sweida.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told Ireland to "sober up" and apologize to the Israeli foreign ministry over a bill that is set to ban imports from settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.