Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on November 5 the dismissal of Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, coinciding with the U.S. presidential election, as per a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu Fires Defence Minister
Netanyahu and Gallant have often been at odds during the ongoing Gaza conflict, but the prime minister had delayed removing him until now.
An earlier attempt to dismiss Gallant in March 2023 had sparked significant street protests against Netanyahu. Israel Katz, who currently serves as foreign minister, will take over as the new defence minister, with Gideon Sa’ar set to succeed Katz as foreign minister.
Netanyahu’s statement emphasized his primary duty to safeguard Israel’s security and guide the nation to victory. “In wartime, complete trust between the prime minister and the defence minister is critical. While that trust initially existed and led to significant achievements early in the campaign, it has eroded in recent months,” he said.
עדכון חשוב ממני אליכם >> pic.twitter.com/YlpNkaljRb
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) November 5, 2024
He noted that major differences had developed between himself and Gallant over the handling of the conflict. Despite efforts to resolve these issues, Netanyahu explained that the disagreements only deepened, eventually becoming public knowledge and exploited by adversaries.
Netanyahu delivered this announcement via a video statement, shortly after a dispute arose with the United Torah Judaism party over his reversal on a bill aimed at allowing haredi yeshiva students to avoid military service.
Who Is Yoav Gallant?
Yoav Gallant, born on November 8, 1958, in Jaffa, Tel Aviv–Yafo, Israel, has served as Israel’s defense minister since 2022 and was a key figure in the Israeli war cabinet during the Israel-Hamas War (2023–2024) alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz.
Gallant’s upbringing in Jaffa was shaped by his parents’ histories: his mother, Fruma, was a Holocaust survivor who reached Palestine on the SS Exodus in 1947, while his father, Michael, was a World War II veteran who fought in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War’s Operation Yoav, after which Gallant was named. He spent his childhood in modest conditions, living with his grandparents, and lost his father at age 17.
Gallant began his military career in 1976, serving in Flotilla 13, the Israeli navy’s elite commando unit. Following a two-year stint working as a lumberjack in Alaska, he returned to Israel and eventually led Flotilla 13. By 2002, he was military secretary to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, and in 2005, he was appointed head of the Southern Command, playing a significant role in Operation Cast Lead (2008–09) against Hamas in Gaza.
Although he was initially slated to become the Israel Defense Forces’ chief of staff in 2010, accusations regarding the misuse of public land—later dismissed—halted his promotion. He retired as a major general in 2011.
Yoav Gallant’s Political Career
Gallant transitioned to politics in 2015, running for the Knesset with the center-right Kulanu party, which had split from Likud to focus on social and economic reforms. Criticizing Netanyahu’s handling of security issues related to Gaza tunnels, Gallant’s military experience reinforced the party’s defense credentials.
After the election, Kulanu joined Netanyahu’s coalition, and Gallant was named minister of construction and housing. In 2018, he returned to Likud and was appointed defense minister in 2022 under Netanyahu’s right-wing government.
Divergence from Netanyahu
During 2023, Gallant opposed Netanyahu’s proposed judicial reforms, warning that they could undermine national security. When Netanyahu initially attempted to dismiss him for speaking out, massive public protests ensued, leading to Netanyahu’s decision to retain him.
Yoav Gallant’s Role in the Israel-Hamas War
After Hamas’s unprecedented attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the capture of 240 hostages, Gallant imposed a total blockade on Gaza and declared a shift in the rules of war. His directive signaled a severe military response, which culminated in extensive destruction and heavy casualties in Gaza.
Gallant joined Netanyahu and Benny Gantz in a war cabinet to manage the crisis. Disagreements over strategy emerged, particularly regarding Netanyahu’s push to occupy Gaza. In May 2024, Gallant criticized Netanyahu’s approach as reckless, forewarning of unnecessary loss of life. After Gantz exited the cabinet, it was dissolved, yet Gallant continued as defense minister.
Legal Challenges and Tensions
In May 2024, ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan announced plans to seek arrest warrants for both Gallant and Netanyahu, alongside Hamas leaders, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity—a move Gallant and others condemned for equating Israel’s actions with those of Hamas.
Gallant maintained his role as a balancing force in Netanyahu’s cabinet, clashing with the prime minister over military strategies, including control over the Philadelphi Corridor. This tension culminated in a heated exchange in August when Gallant opposed a cabinet decision he believed prioritized military gains over hostages’ welfare.
