AA / Jerusalem / Zein Khalil
Israeli sources said Monday evening that a government reshuffle including the ouster of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant was expected in the coming hours.
Citing informed sources, Israeli public broadcaster KAN revealed that negotiations were underway between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office and Gideon Sa’ar, leader of the right-wing New Hope party, to replace Gallant, who is said to be at odds with Netanyahu.
The sources added that the reshuffle could be announced in the coming hours.
On Monday evening, hundreds of Israelis gathered outside Sa’ar’s home in Tel Aviv to protest the prospect of him joining a government that has rejected a prisoner swap deal with Hamas, the Yedioth Ahronoth daily reported.
Gallant has come under fire from Netanyahu’s far-right allies, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
Israeli media have recently reported deep differences between Netanyahu and senior security officials, including Gallant, who believes the time has come for a ceasefire in Gaza, while Netanyahu insists on continuing the war and maintaining control of the Gaza-Egypt border area known as the “Philadelphia Corridor.”
Defying UN Security Council resolutions calling for an immediate ceasefire, Israel has continued its deadly offensive against the Gaza Strip since October 7 last year.
According to local health authorities, more than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed since then, mostly women and children, while some 95,400 others have been injured in the nearly year-long Israeli offensive.
Israeli attacks have displaced almost the entire population of the territory, while a continuing blockade has led to severe shortages of food, drinking water and medicine.
Israel is also being prosecuted before the International Court of Justice for the “crime of genocide” for its actions in the Gaza Strip.
*Translated from English by Mourad Belhaj
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