Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has removed his defence minister, Yoav Gallant, amid ongoing tensions between the two over how to manage the war in Gaza. 

Mr Netanyahu announced in a video on Tuesday that Mr Gallant, who had held the position since 2022, disagreed with his approach to the war, leading to “significant gaps” in their perspectives. 

As a result, the prime minister felt their relationship no longer had the “complete trust” necessary for effective military leadership. 

Israel Katz, the current foreign minister, has been named Mr Gallant’s successor in the defence role, while Gideon Sa’ar will take over as foreign minister.

Mr Gallant, a senior figure in Mr Netanyahu’s Likud party, had become increasingly vocal about his differences with the prime minister, particularly concerning military strategies in Gaza. 

Known for taking a more moderate approach, Mr Gallant criticised Mr Netanyahu’s push for total victory over Hamas, referring to it as unrealistic.

His disagreements extended to the government’s broader policies, including contentious judicial reforms and proposals on Gaza’s future.

According to the New York Times, Ynet, a centrist Israeli news outlet, reported that during a meeting with the Knesset’s foreign affairs and defence committee on Monday, Mr Gallant dismissed the prime minister’s slogan of “total victory” as “nonsense.” 

In response, the prime minister’s office criticised Mr Gallant’s remarks, stating that by challenging Israel’s approach, he was undermining efforts to secure a deal for the release of hostages held by Hamas.

“When Gallant adopts the anti-Israel narrative, he harms the chances of reaching a hostage release deal,” the statement said. 

The office reaffirmed that Israel’s only option is to achieve “total victory,” which it defined as eliminating Hamas’s military and governing infrastructure and ensuring the release of hostages.