Israel: Netanyahu Fires Defence Minister Yoav Gallant; Protest Erupts (X image @jacksonhinklle)
Tel Aviv, Israel: Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, after two differed over the course of Israel’s war against Hamas. Netanyahu announced his decision in a video statement published by his office.
He said the decision was due to “significant gaps on handling the battle”, which had created a rift between him and the defence minister. He said the trust between him and Gallant was damaged over the months.
Netanyahu named Israel Kartz, the Foreign Minister of Israel to replace Gallant.
Gallant blamed his dismissal on disagreements with Netanyahu over three issues. The proposed mandatory conscription of ultra-Orthodox Israelis, a cease-fire deal in Gaza that would secure the release of hostages held there, and Gallant’s insistence on an independent commission to investigate the security failures that led to the October 7 attacks.
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Gallant has been the most high-level dissident of Netanyahu within his own government. The former defence minister has been urging Netanyahu to reach a deal to free remaining hostages from the hands of Hamas.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas attacked Tel Aviv as a result of decades long oppression on the Gaza Strip. The coastal enclave’s resistance group took more than 200 Israelis as hostages. While some are released, more than 100 are still remaining in Hamas custody, with over 30 are presumed to be killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza.
In August this year, Gallant questioned Netanyahu’s goal of “total victory” over Hamas in Gaza, and called it “nonsense”. He also suggested that the Prime Minister was letting Israel slide toward long-term military rule in Gaza, a choice that Gallant said would be disastrous.
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Even before the recent war in Gaza, Gallant clashed with Netanyahu over the prime minister’s hotly contested plans to weaken the country’s judicial system.
In March last year, Netanyahu sought to fire Gallant over his speech warning amidst street protest against the former’s move to take over Israel’s judicial system. He had to walk back his decision as mass protest and general strike erupted.
Israeli population took to streets after Netanyahu’s decision to fire Gallant. They blocked traffic and lit bonfires on a major highway in Tel Aviv. The protestors also gathered around Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem.
