Netanyahu Sacks Defence Minister: Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Tuesday, following ongoing public disagreements over Israel’s intensified military actions in Gaza. Gallant, a seasoned official known for his firm stance against Hezbollah, had recently advocated for a ceasefire and a hostage release arrangement with Hamas.
This decision comes on a day when the United States, Israel’s key military ally, holds crucial elections that could influence the trajectory of American foreign policy.
In place of Gallant, Netanyahu appointed former foreign minister Israel Katz as the new Defence Minister, while Gideon Saar was named the new Foreign Minister.
Gallant reacted to his dismissal by reaffirming his commitment to Israel’s security, calling it his “life’s mission.”
The Ongoing Conflict: High Casualties in Gaza and Lebanon
Since Hamas launched an assault on Israel on October 7 of last year, leading to over 1,200 casualties, mostly civilians, the retaliatory strikes have led to extensive loss of life in Gaza. According to Gaza’s health ministry, which the United Nations deems reliable, over 43,000 individuals have been killed, with civilians comprising the majority.
On Tuesday, Israeli forces pressed forward with air and ground assaults targeting militants in Gaza and southern Lebanon. In Lebanon, an Israeli airstrike in Jiyeh, south of Beirut, reportedly killed one person and injured 20 others, targeting an apartment tied to Hezbollah, according to a security source. Further attacks were reported in southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa Valley, with the Lebanese Red Cross and army recovering seven bodies following recent raids.
Hezbollah, which has engaged in hostilities with Israel since September 23, announced it had launched rockets and drones targeting northern Israel and Israeli forces positioned near the Lebanon border. In total, the ongoing conflict has claimed at least 1,964 lives in Lebanon.
Israeli Strikes in Syria
Meanwhile, in Syria, Israeli forces carried out an airstrike in Al-Qusayr near the Lebanon border, targeting what it claimed were Hezbollah-controlled weapons storage sites. Syria’s SANA news agency reported that the attack struck the town’s industrial zone and nearby residential buildings, although no casualties were confirmed.
Rising Violence in the West Bank
In the West Bank, violence has escalated, with Israeli forces reportedly killing seven Palestinians in separate operations on Tuesday, according to Palestinian officials. Since October 7, at least 757 Palestinians have died in the West Bank as a result of Israeli forces or settlers, while 24 Israelis have lost their lives in attacks by Palestinians, according to official records.
Perspectives from Gaza Amid US Elections
As the United States holds its elections, Palestinians in Gaza expressed hope that the next American administration will work to de-escalate the conflict. “We are hanging by a thread, and like every other people in the world, we are looking for someone who can stop the war,” said Ayman al-Omreiti, a resident of Gaza City. He added, “Our hope is that the American people will choose someone who can end the suffering of the Palestinian people.”
