Israel’s PM Netanyahu dismisses Defence Minister Yoav Gallant

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed his Defence Minister Yoav Gallant in a surprise announcement made Tuesday evening, citing “crisis of trust”.

Foreign Minister Israel Katz will replace Gallant, Netanyahu said, explaining that his trust in Gallant had recently “eroded”.

The two have repeatedly been at odds throughout the war against Hamas in Gaza, now in its second year, and escalating conflict with Lebanon’s Hezbollah and the Iranian regime in Tehran, but Netanyahu had avoided firing his rival so far.

In response to his sacking, Gallant posted on social media on Tuesday, saying that “the security of the State of Israel always was, and will always remain, my life’s mission.”

A previous attempt to fire Gallant in March of last year sparked widespread street protests against Netanyahu, already under fire by parts of the Israeli society over his alleged mismanagement of the consequences of the Hamas 7 October attack and failed attempts to negotiate a safe return of hostages kept in Gaza.

Gallant, a former naval commando and IDF officer, has been a vocal critic of Netanyahu’s proposed judicial reforms, clashing over the matter with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

This is a developing story, and our journalists are working on further updates.

Additional sources • AP