Thousands protested yesterday in Tel Aviv and outside Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem, holding signs with slogans such as ‘We deserve better leaders’ in response to his decision to dismiss Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
Netanyahu explained his decision, citing ‘significant gaps in handling the Gaza conflict’ and adding that ‘trust between myself and the Defense Minister had eroded in recent months.’ He intends to replace Gallant with Foreign Minister Israel Katz.
Gallant, however, said that his dismissal was linked to disagreements over his recent efforts to enlist ultra-Orthodox Jews, a measure opposed by the two parties representing ultra-Orthodox interests within the governing coalition.
International allies saw Gallant as a ‘buffer’ against far-right elements within Israel’s coalition government.
He also cited disagreements over the approach to securing the hostages’ return and the need for a full investigation into the failures surrounding the October 7 attacks as additional reasons for his dismissal. Gallant had also publicly rejected the Prime Minister’s repeated goal of a ‘total victory’ over Hamas.
While thousands protested against the government, the IDF killed at least 30 Palestinians in airstrikes on Gaza on Tuesday, including eight women and six children in the northern town of Beit Lahia. The Israeli military reported targeting a weapons depot.
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