JERUSALEM/CAIRO. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fires Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Tuesday, citing a “crisis of trust.” Gallant, a seasoned military figure and member of Netanyahu’s Likud party, was replaced by Netanyahu’s close ally, Israel Katz, who will now lead Israel’s ongoing military campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon. The decision triggered a rapid backlash, with demonstrators in Israel blocking major highways and lighting bonfires in protest, according to police reports.
Gallant’s dismissal comes as Israel prepares for potential retaliatory action from Iran following the Oct. 26 airstrikes it conducted on Iranian targets. Many of Netanyahu’s critics argue that he is placing political interests above national security at a critical time. The timing, surprising to some, coincides with the U.S. presidential election, adding further complexity to an already tense situation.
Replacing Katz as foreign minister is Gideon Saar, another prominent figure within Likud. Saar is expected to adopt a hardline approach in managing Israel’s complex international relations amid rising regional tensions.
The internal tension between Netanyahu and Gallant had been building throughout Israel’s 13-month-old war in Gaza, which targets the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Netanyahu stated that Gallant had “made statements that contradict the government’s and cabinet’s decisions.” Gallant responded firmly, saying, “The security of the State of Israel always was and will always remain my life’s mission.”
With Katz’s appointment, Israel has doubled down on its goals to secure the return of hostages held in Gaza and to dismantle Hamas and Hezbollah. Katz declared on the social media platform X, “I accept this responsibility with a sense of mission and holy fear for the security of the State of Israel and its citizens.”
As foreign minister, Katz had previously barred U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres from entering Israel, condemning what he viewed as Guterres’s inadequate response to Iranian missile attacks and alleged antisemitic conduct. Katz also rejected a ceasefire proposal from the U.S. and France for Lebanon in September, underscoring Israel’s commitment to a strict, uncompromising approach in its military engagements.
Gallant’s removal may have been influenced by broader political dynamics, particularly as Netanyahu faces pressure from far-right members of his coalition. Reports suggest that Gallant’s decision to issue 7,000 draft notices to ultra-Orthodox Haredi men—a group typically exempt from military service—angered several government members opposed to conscription. Political expert Gayil Talshir from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem speculated that “this was the last straw for Netanyahu, especially given the coalition’s aversion to mandatory conscription.”
While ministers from Netanyahu’s coalition, such as Itamar Ben-Gvir, praised the decision, describing Gallant as “trapped in the conception that it is not possible to achieve absolute victory,” opposition leaders expressed alarm. Yair Lapid, Israel’s opposition leader, condemned the timing of the firing, calling it “an act of madness” amid an active conflict.
International responses have also been swift. A White House National Security Council spokesperson described Gallant as an important partner, expressing hope to work closely with Katz going forward. Meanwhile, France’s foreign minister plans to visit Israel and the Palestinian territories this week, aiming to urge Israel toward a diplomatic approach to de-escalate the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.
As the Israeli government undergoes this sudden leadership shift, questions loom over the potential impacts on Israel’s defense strategy and the region’s stability. The new phase of Israel’s campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon under Katz’s leadership underscores a hardened approach in the face of mounting internal and international pressures.
