News Desk

Yoav Gallant, the former Israeli Defence Minister who frequently clashed with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right government allies, announced his resignation from the Knesset on Wednesday. Gallant, who was dismissed from his cabinet position by Netanyahu in November following ongoing disagreements over the handling of the Gaza war, chose to remain as a parliament member until now.

In a televised statement, Gallant explained,

“Just as it is on the battlefield, so it is in public service. There are moments when one must stop, assess, and choose a direction in order to achieve the goals.”

Gallant had consistently diverged from Netanyahu’s policies, including his opposition to exemptions granted to ultra-Orthodox Jewish men from military conscription, a highly contentious issue in Israeli politics. His outspoken stance led to his removal from the government in March 2023 after urging a halt to Netanyahu’s controversial judicial overhaul plan, sparking widespread protests and eventually forcing the Prime Minister to back down.

Gallant’s resignation comes at a time when both he and Netanyahu face international scrutiny. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for the two leaders, as well as a Hamas leader, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the ongoing Gaza conflict, allegations which Israel has strongly disputed.