Israel’s wartime row: What’s behind the rift between Netanyahu and Gallant?

The prime minister has sacked his defiant defence minister in an attempt to settle a schism at the pinnacle of power. Gallant, infamous for likening Palestinians to “human animals”, has criticised Netanyahu’s war on Gaza, which has reduced most of the enclave to rubble, killed more than 43,400 people and displaced almost the entire population. At the time, Gallant criticised Netanyahu during a televised address, arguing that the proposed judicial reforms endangered national security by deepening political divisions within security branches. In May, Gallant publicly condemned Netanyahu’s plan and said that he would “not agree to the establishment of Israeli military rule in Gaza”. Netanyahu has dismissed Gallant’s remarks and repeatedly promised to achieve “total victory” against Hamas in Gaza.