Israel-Hamas war: why Netanyahu fired his defense minister Yoav Gallant

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired his defense minister Yoav Gallant on Tuesday, saying there was a “crisis of trust” between them.

Mr. Netanyahu said in a statement that his trust in Mr. Gallant had “eroded” in recent months.

Foreign Minister Israel Katz will replace Mr. Gallant, Mr. Netanyahu added.

Mr Gallant’s dismissal has already sparked protests in the streets of Tel Aviv and opposition leaders have called for larger public demonstrations.

Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Gallant have long had a contentious working relationship, and over the past year there have been reported altercations between the two men over Israel’s war strategy in the Gaza Strip.

Mr. Gallant argued that a hostage release deal with Hamas should take priority over continuing the war, a position rejected by the prime minister.

The former defense minister was also unhappy with plans to continue allowing ultra-Orthodox citizens of Israel to be exempt from serving in the army.

A few months before the start of the Gaza war in October 2023, Mr. Netanyahu dismissed Mr. Gallant due to political differences, before reinstating him following major protests.

But on Tuesday, Mr. Netanyahu said in a statement: “In the middle of a war, more than ever, complete trust is necessary between the prime minister and the defense minister.”

He noted that while trust and “successful work” had existed during the first months of the military campaign, “this trust has been shaken in recent months.”

Mr. Netanyahu said that “significant discrepancies were discovered between Gallant and myself in the management of the campaign.”

These shortcomings were “accompanied by statements and actions that contradicted government decisions,” he added.

Following his dismissal, Mr. Gallant posted a brief message on

His replacement, Israel Katz, is seen as even more aggressive in terms of military strategy.

Another Netanyahu ally, Gideon Sa’ar, who previously had no ministerial portfolio, will become the new foreign minister.

Mr. Gallant’s dismissal will take effect in 48 hours. The appointment of new ministers must be approved by the government, then by the Knesset.

Mr Netanyahu first fired Mr Gallant in March 2023, after he expressed disagreement with the prime minister’s controversial plans to reform Israel’s justice system and strip power from the country’s Supreme Court.

But he was forced to reverse his dismissal after massive public protests in several Israeli cities, known as “Gallant Night.”

In May this year, Mr Gallant openly expressed his frustration at the government’s failure to address the issue of a post-war plan for Gaza. He wanted Mr. Netanyahu to publicly declare that Israel had no intention of taking civilian and military control of the Gaza Strip.

It was a rare public sign of divisions within the Israeli war cabinet over the direction of the military campaign.

“Since October, I have continually raised this issue within cabinet,” Mr. Gallant said, “and I have received no response.

Mr. Netanyahu responded that he was “not ready to trade Hamas for Fatahstan,” a reference to rival Palestinian groups Hamas and Fatah.

In response to Mr. Gallant’s dismissal on Tuesday evening, members of Israel’s opposition political parties called for protests.

A group representing the families of hostages taken by Hamas in the October 7 attack also condemned Mr. Netanyahu’s dismissal of Mr. Gallant, saying it was a continuation of efforts to “torpedo » a release agreement.

More than 100 hostages out of the 251 taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023 are still missing after more than a year of war.

The Forum for Hostages and Missing Families called on new Minister Israel Katz to “express an explicit commitment to ending the war and implementing a comprehensive agreement for the immediate return of all hostages.”

The dismissal of Mr. Gallant also comes on the day of the presidential election in the United States, Israel’s main ally in its war against Gaza, a fact which did not go unnoticed in several Israeli media.

Mr. Gallant was seen as having much better relations with the White House than Mr. Netanyahu.

A White House National Security Council official said Tuesday: “Minister Gallant has been an important partner on all matters related to Israel’s defense. As close partners, we will continue to work collaboratively with Israel’s next defense minister.”

Observers note that Gallant’s ouster also comes at a time when Netanyahu is under pressure from far-right politicians to pass a bill allowing ultra-Orthodox citizens of Israel to remain exempt from serving in the military.

Gallant had opposed the bill.

Observers note that Mr. Gallant’s firing also comes at a time when Mr. Netanyahu is under pressure from far-right politicians to pass a bill allowing Israel’s ultra-Orthodox citizens to remain exempt from serving in the military.

Mr. Gallant opposed this bill.