Sharif, 73, first became prime minister in 1990. He was ousted in a 1999 coup, ending a second stint as prime minister, and went into self-imposed exile until 2007.
Israel is gearing up for a ground war in the tiny, crowded Palestinian enclave aimed at eradicating Hamas that rampaged into Israeli towns on Oct. 7, and reportedly killing 1,400 people and seizing hostages.
During this 11-day period, thousands of Palestinians, including over 1,000 children, have tragically lost their lives in Israeli airstrikes. In response, Israel has announced plans to accelerate a ground offensive.
