Israel’s Netanyahu Fires Defence Minister

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, citing a loss of trust amid the ongoing Gaza conflict with Hamas.

Naija News reports that Netanyahu said this in a statement issued by his office on Tuesday.

“In recent months, that trust has eroded. Therefore, I have decided to end the defense minister’s term,” Netanyahu stated, announcing that Foreign Minister Israel Katz would assume the role.

Following his dismissal, Gallant responded on X, reaffirming his commitment to Israel’s safety.

“The security of the State of Israel was and will always remain the mission of my life,” he declared shortly after Netanyahu’s announcement.

According to Daily Mail, Netanyahu said in his video statement that in spite ‘fruitful work’ with Gallant at the beginning of the war in Gaza, trust had ‘cracked’ in recent months.

“I made many attempts to bridge these gaps, but they kept getting wider,’ he continued.

“They also came to the knowledge of the public in an unacceptable way, and worse than that, they came to the knowledge of the enemy — our enemies enjoyed it and derived a lot of benefit from it.”

Minister without Portfolio Gideon Sa’ar will replace Katz as Foreign Minister.

Gallant had voiced concerns that divisions within society were hurting morale in the military and empowering Israel’s adversaries.

“I see how the source of our strength is being eroded,” he said last Saturday.

The decision to oust Gallant came amid controversy over the decision to draft 7,000 more ultra-orthodox Haredi Jews into the military