Israel’s Defense Minister was unexpectedly removed from his position on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed his coalition partner Yoav Gallant, who had been at odds with him on multiple issues since the Gaza war. Foreign Minister Israel Katz will replace Gallant, and Gideon Sa’ar will be named Katz’s successor as the foreign minister.
The dismissal appears to result from a clash over the continuation of the war. While Netanyahu argued that the conflict should continue, Gallant represented the military’s view that it was time to end the war since they had achieved their objectives.
Netanyahu stated that while he initially trusted Gallant and achieved fruitful work together, that trust has cracked over the past few months.
Contrary to Netanyahu’s stance, the military now believes it is time to conclude the war. According to reports from CNN and other international media outlets, Israeli military leadership has determined that all military operational goals in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip have been achieved, and the only remaining task is political negotiation.
During a meeting with officers engaged in combat in northern Gaza, Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi stated that it is now time to conclude military operations between Hamas and the Israeli Defense Forces.
As calls for a ceasefire intensify globally, the Israeli military leadership has begun to discuss ending the conflict.
Lebanon’s Prime Minister suggested that a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel could be imminent.
Both Vice President Kamala Harris, a candidate in the U.S. presidential election, and former President Donald Trump emphasized that the conflicts in Lebanon and Gaza should not persist until their inauguration.
However, Netanyahu appears reluctant to end the war, possibly fearing that once it concludes, he could lose his position and face trial for various criminal charges, potentially leading to imprisonment.
Gallant, a former commander of the Israeli military’s Southern Command, was appointed Defense Minister by Netanyahu but frequently clashed with him after the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023.
In May, he opposed Israel’s governance of the Gaza Strip in the aftermath of the conflict and voiced differing opinions from Netanyahu during wartime cabinet meetings regarding post-war plans.
