Netanyahu has named Foreign Minister Israel Katz as Gallant’s replacement, with Gideon Saar stepping in as the new foreign minister, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.
The prime minister’s decision comes after months of growing discord between him and Gallant, both senior figures in the right-wing Likud party. The two leaders have reportedly disagreed over Israel’s strategy in its 13-month conflict with Hamas, with Gallant advocating for a clearer exit strategy, while Netanyahu maintains that military action must persist until Hamas is entirely dismantled as a governing and military entity in Gaza.
“A crisis of trust gradually opened … and this crisis does not allow for the normal continuation of the management of the campaign,” Netanyahu explained in a statement, adding that he had attempted to resolve the differences. “But they kept getting wider,” he said, noting that these divisions became visible to Israel’s adversaries, potentially benefiting them.
According to Netanyahu, Gallant’s conduct included statements and actions that “contradict the decisions of the government and the decisions of the cabinet.” Gallant, for his part, responded briefly but firmly, saying, “The security of the state of Israel always was and will always remain my life’s mission.”
This is not the first time Netanyahu has removed Gallant from office. Earlier this year, Gallant was briefly dismissed over objections to Netanyahu’s plans to overhaul Israel’s judiciary—a move that sparked mass protests, ultimately prompting the prime minister to reinstate him. However, Gallant’s vocal criticism of the ongoing Gaza operations has reignited the divide.
The ongoing conflict, which has now lasted over a year, has left a deep split within the Israeli government and military, with some factions, including Gallant, calling for diplomatic efforts to negotiate an end to the fighting and secure the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
