Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, citing a “crisis of trust” between them.
Netanyahu said in a statement that his confidence in Gallant had been “eroded” in recent months and that Foreign Minister Israel Katz would replace Gallant.
Gallant posted on social media that the “security of the State of Israel has been and always will be the mission of my life.”
The looting has already sparked protests on the streets of Tel Aviv and political opposition leaders have called for wider public demonstrations.
Netanyahu and Gallant have long had a divisive working relationship, and over the past year there have been reports of shouting matches between the two men over Israel’s war strategy.
Gallant has said that an agreement on the release of hostages with Hamas should be prioritized before continuing the war in Gaza, a position rejected by the prime minister.
The former defense minister was also unhappy with plans to continue exempting Israel’s ultra-Orthodox citizens from military service.
Months before the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023, Netanyahu had fired Gallant over political differences before reinstating him after widespread public outcry.
But on Tuesday, Netanyahu said: “In the middle of a war, more than ever, full trust is required between the prime minister and the defense minister.”
While there was trust and “fruitful work” in the early months of the war, he said, “this trust has been broken in recent months.”
Netanyahu added that “significant gaps were discovered between me and Gallant in the management of the campaign.”
These were “accompanied by statements and actions that contradict the government’s decisions,” he added.
Gallant later released a full statement Tuesday evening, saying his removal from office was “the result of disagreements over three issues.”
He believed that there should be no exceptions for military service, that a national inquiry was needed to learn lessons, and that the hostages should be returned as quickly as possible.
Regarding the hostages, he said: “I conclude that it is possible to achieve this goal. It requires painful concessions, which the State of Israel can bear and the IDF can bear.”
His replacement Katz is seen as even more aggressive in terms of military strategy.
Another Netanyahu ally, Gideon Sa’ar – who previously had no cabinet portfolio – will become the new foreign minister.
Gallant’s removal will take effect in 48 hours. The appointment of the new ministers requires the approval of the government and then the Knesset.
Netanyahu first fired Gallant in March 2023 after their disagreement over controversial plans to overhaul the justice system.
But he was forced to retract the looting after massive public protests in several cities in Israel – an event that became known as ‘Gallant Night’.
In May this year, Gallant openly expressed his frustration at the government’s inability to address the issue of a post-war plan for Gaza. Gallant wanted Netanyahu to publicly state that Israel has no plans to take over civilian and military rule in Gaza.
It was a rare public sign of division within Israel’s war cabinet over the direction of the military campaign.
“I have consistently raised this issue in Cabinet since October,” Gallant said, “and have received no response.”
Netanyahu responded by saying he was “not ready to exchange Hamastan for Fatahstan,” referring to rival Palestinian groups Hamas and Fatah.
In response to Gallant’s removal, members of Israel’s opposition political parties called for public protests on Tuesday evening.
A group representing the families of people taken hostage by Hamas in the October 7 attack also condemned Netanyahu’s dismissal of Gallant, calling it a continuation of efforts to “torpedo” a release deal.
More than 100 of the 251 hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023, remain missing more than a year after the war.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum called on new Minister Katz to “make an explicit commitment to the end of the war and reach a comprehensive agreement for the immediate return of all abductees.”
Gallant’s resignation also comes on the day of the US presidential election, Israel’s mainstay in the Gaza war, a time several Israeli media outlets have pointed out.
Gallant was believed to have a much better relationship with the White House than Netanyahu.
A White House National Security Council representative said Tuesday: “Secretary Gallant has been a key partner in all matters related to Israel’s defense. As close partners, we will continue to work with Israel’s next Defense Minister.”
Observers note that Gallant’s removal also comes at a time when Netanyahu is under pressure from far-right politicians to pass a bill that would have allowed Israel’s Ultra Othrodox citizens to be exempted from serving in the military. Gallant had been a high-profile opponent of the bill.
