Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu has fired Defence Minister Yoav Gallant amid the ongoing war against Hamas and Hezbollah.
Israel Foreign Minister Israel Katz will now replace Gallant.
Minister without Portfolio Gideon Sa’ar will now become the new Foreign Minister of the country.
In a terse letter that the Prime Minister’s Office said was handed to Gallant during an 8 p.m. meeting, Netanyahu informed him that his tenure would end “48 hours from the receipt of this letter”, reported The Times of Israel.
Israel witnessed the political change at a time when the US, the country’s key ally, is voting to elect a new President.
Following the reshuffle, Gallant wrote on X: “I salute Israel’s fallen troops and their families, our wounded veterans, the hostages and their families, all of the IDF’s troops and security forces.”
“I trust you and salute you,” he said.
Following the reshuffle, demonstrations erupted in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
Some protesters were seen shouting slogans against Netanyahu in front of his residence.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid reacted to the political development in the country and wrote on X: “Gallant’s salute at the end of his speech will be engraved in the memory of every Israeli. This is how an officer and soldier who was deposed only because he refused to prefer Netanyahu’s wretched politics to good.”
