Protests erupt in Israel after Netanyahu fires defence minister
Reuters, BBC
Protests erupted in Israel after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired the country's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Tuesday, saying he had no trust in him over the management of Israel's ongoing military operations as the wars in Gaza and Lebanon grind on.
Netanyahu said a "crisis of trust" between the two leaders led to his decision, and Foreign Minister Israel Katz would step in to replace him. Gideon Saar has become the new foreign minister, Gallant and Netanyahu, who are both in the right-wing Likud party, have clashed for months over the objectives of Israel's 13-month-old war in Gaza against Hamas, and many had expected the prime minister to sack him sooner or later.
Gallant said his removal was due to disagreement on three issues, including his belief that it is possible to get the remaining hostages back from Gaza if Israel makes "painful concessions" which it "can bear". The protesters on the streets were calling for Netanyahu’s resignation as well in addition to demanding the new defence minister prioritise a hostage deal.
Around 100 hostages out of 251 taken by Hamas on 7 October 2023 remain unaccounted for more than a year into the war.
Netanyahu said a "crisis of trust" between the two leaders led to his decision, and Foreign Minister Israel Katz would step in to replace him. Gideon Saar has become the new foreign minister, Gallant and Netanyahu, who are both in the right-wing Likud party, have clashed for months over the objectives of Israel's 13-month-old war in Gaza against Hamas, and many had expected the prime minister to sack him sooner or later.
Gallant said his removal was due to disagreement on three issues, including his belief that it is possible to get the remaining hostages back from Gaza if Israel makes "painful concessions" which it "can bear". The protesters on the streets were calling for Netanyahu’s resignation as well in addition to demanding the new defence minister prioritise a hostage deal.
Around 100 hostages out of 251 taken by Hamas on 7 October 2023 remain unaccounted for more than a year into the war.