Israel’s military minister is fired by Netanyahu due to a “trust” breach.

Following public disagreements over the current war in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Tuesday and replaced him with Israel Katz, a former top diplomat.

The unexpected decision to remove Gallant, who has been tough on Israel’s conflict with Hezbollah but has also recently called for a ceasefire and a solution to free the hostages in Gaza, coincides with elections in the US, Israel’s largest military ally.

Since the Palestinian militant group’s fatal October 7 attack on Israel last year, Israel has launched a retaliatory military offensive against Hamas, which has led to regular clashes between Netanyahu and Gallant.

In recent months, trust has been undermined. According to a statement from Netanyahu’s office, “I decided today to end the term of the defence minister in light of this,” and he named Katz to succeed him.

Katz was then replaced as foreign minister by Gideon Saar.

Following his dismissal, Gallant declared that his life’s “mission” would continue to be ensuring Israel’s security.

According to an AFP count of Israeli official data, 1,206 persons, primarily civilians, were killed in Hamas’ October 7 onslaught on Israel.

According to Gaza health ministry numbers that the UN deems credible, Israel’s retaliatory attack has killed 43,391 persons in Gaza, the bulk of whom were civilians.

Drones and rockets
More than a year after the start of the conflict in Gaza, Israeli soldiers intensified their multi-front campaign against militants Tuesday from the air and on the ground.

Deadly raids were reported nationwide by Lebanon’s authorities. According to the health ministry, an Israeli attack on Jiyeh, a coastal hamlet south of Beirut, left one person dead and twenty injured.

According to a security source who spoke on condition of anonymity, the target was a Hezbollah flat.

According to an AFP correspondent, the attack demolished the top floor of a four-story building.