Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced in a statement earlier today that Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant has been terminated. Netanyahu announced he is transferring Minister of Foreign Affairs Israel Katz to replace Gallant, with Gideon Sa’ar being appointed as Foreign Minister.

Netanyahu stated that his trust in the former minister of defense eroded over the course of the war, and cited recent lack of trust as reason for terminating him. He stated in an announcement:

In the midst of a war, more than ever, full trust is required between the prime minister and defense minister…. Unfortunately, although in the first months of the campaign there was such trust and there was very fruitful work, during the last months this trust cracked between me and the defense minister.

In a letter sent to Gallant released by the prime minister’s office, Netanyahu notified him that his post was being transferred, and that his tenure as minister of defense would end within 48 hours, stating:

I would like to inform you in accordance with Article 22(b) of the Basic Law of the Government that I have decided to transfer you from your post as Minister of Defense. Your tenure will be terminated within 48 hours from the date of delivery of this letter. I would like to thank you for your work as Minister of Defense.

Gallant responded to being terminated by stating that the security of Israel is his life’s mission, posting on X, “The security of the State of Israel was and will always remain the mission of my life ????????????????”