Jerusalem, Undefined—Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired defense minister Yoav Gallant Tuesday following public differences over the ongoing war in Gaza, replacing him with former top diplomat Israel Katz.
The surprise move to sack Gallant, who has been hawkish on Israel’s war with Hezbollah but has also recently urged a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza, comes as elections are held in the United States, Israel’s top military backer.
Netanyahu and Gallant have frequently clashed over Israel’s retaliatory military offensive against Hamas following the Palestinian militant group’s deadly attack on Israel on October 7 last year.
“Over the past few months… trust has eroded. In light of this, I decided today to end the term of the defence minister,” a statement from the Netanyahu’s office said, adding that he had appointed Katz to take his place.
Gideon Saar was in turn appointed to replace Katz as foreign minister.
After his sacking, Gallant said Israel’s security would remain his life’s “mission.”
Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people, mostly civilians, according to an Agence France Presse (AFP) tally of Israeli official figures.
Israel’s retaliatory campaign has killed 43,391 people in Gaza, a majority of them civilians, according to Gaza health ministry figures which the United Nations considers to be reliable.
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