JERUSALEM, ISRAEL — Israeli media reported on November 5, 2024, that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed Defense Minister Yoav Gallant from his government.

Netanyahu appointed Foreign Minister Israel Katz as Gallant's replacement and appointed Gideon Sa'ar as the new foreign minister. Following the dismissal, Netanyahu stated, “The crisis of trust that has developed between me and the defense minister made it impossible to continue managing the war in this manner.”

Earlier reports from international media suggested a growing rift between the two officials, stemming from Gallant's orders to recruit 7,000 ultra-Orthodox Jews (Haredim). This decision threatened to ignite tensions with those parties and may have precipitated Netanyahu’s decision to remove Gallant, who seeks to increase recruitment numbers further.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel has been conducting military operations in Gaza, which have resulted in the deaths and injuries of approximately 146,000 Palestinians.