Netanyahu fires Israel Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over 'crisis of trust'

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over a "crisis of trust" and appointed Foreign Minister Israel Katz to succeed him as the new Defence Minister.

In Short

• Benjamin Netanyahu's trust in Yaov Gallant eroded over months
• Israel Katz appointed new Defence Minister
• Gallant emphasised Israel's security as his priority

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, citing a loss of confidence in his handling of the country's current military operations, media reports said on Tuesday.

In a statement, Netanyahu's office announced that Foreign Minister Israel Katz will take over as the new Defence Minister. Meanwhile, Gideon Saar has been appointed to succeed Katz as Foreign Minister.

"Over the past few months that trust has eroded. In light of this, I decided today to end the term of the defence minister," Netanyahu said in a statement issued by his office, adding that he had appointed Foreign Minister Israel Katz to take his place.

Soon after the announcement, Yoav Gallant took to X and said that Israel's security will always remain his top priority.

"The security of the State of Israel was and will always remain the mission of my life," he posted in Hebrew.

Gallant and Netanyahu, both in the right-wing Likud party, have clashed for months over the objectives of Israel's 13-month-old war in Gaza against Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Netanyahu remarked that he had tried to bridge the gaps but they "kept getting wider" and became public. "Worse than that, they came to the knowledge of the enemy and our enemies enjoyed it and derived a lot of benefit from it."

Netanyahu said such gaps were accompanied by statements and actions that "contradict the decisions of the government and the decisions of the cabinet".

Gallant expressed disagreements regarding Israel's war in the Middle East. Gallant said the war lacked clear direction, while Netanyahu reiterated that fighting could not cease until Hamas was wiped out as a governing entity and military force in Gaza.

Shortly before the Gaza conflict erupted, Netanyahu dismissed Gallant due to disagreements over the government's plans to overhaul Israel's judicial system, but after mass protests the prime minister reinstated him.