Netanyahu fires defense minister in surprise announcement

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed the public Tuesday afternoon that he had dismissed Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Netanyahu said over the past few months, he’d begun to lose trust in Gallant and the two shared differing views about how Israel’s military campaign against the terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah should be handled. The prime minister also characterized Gallant’s recent words and actions as contradictory to the Israeli government’s decisions and policies.

How has Gallant responded? On Tuesday afternoon, Gallant issued a brief statement saying that the security of the state of Israel has been and always will remain the mission of his life.

How did the two leaders differ? While Netanyahu has insisted on continued military pressure on Hamas in Gaza, Gallant in recent months has expressed support for a diplomatic solution that would bring about a cease-fire and would free Israeli hostages taken by Hamas during the Oct. 7 terror attacks. Netanyahu tried to fire Gallant in March 2023, but his announcement at that time proved unpopular with the public, which rallied behind Gallant. The ensuing demonstrations led Netanyahu to reverse his decision.

Who is set to replace Gallant? Netanyahu named Foreign Minister Israel Katz to take Gallant’s place. In a statement Tuesday afternoon, Katz thanked the prime minister and said he accepted the role with a sense of mission and what he characterized as holy fear. He pledged to fulfill the various objectives of Israel’s ongoing, multifront war. Katz defined those objectives as the return of all of the hostages taken by Hamas during the Oct. 7 attacks; the destruction of Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon; the containment of Iranian aggression; and the safe return of residents to abandoned homes in northern Israel.

Dig deeper: Read Lauren Canterberry’s report on Gallant’s proposal for a post-war Gaza.