A new round of confrontation between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallad is making the rifts within the Israeli government more visible over the goals of the military operation in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli media reported that Gallant had dismissed as “nonsense” Netanyahu’s pledge of total victory over Hamas, which he has repeated many times.
The report was made in a closed Knesset committee briefing. “I hear the heroes with the war drums and ‘total victory’ and all that nonsense,” he told MPs in an indirect reference to the Prime Minister.
Lawmakers from Netanyahu’s Likud party at the same meeting attacked Galland, asking why he had not declared war on Hezbollah 10 months after the Hamas invasion. The minister replied that he was initially in favor of a pre-emptive strike, but in the process he changed his mind, due to the now different situation.
In response, the prime minister’s office issued a statement saying: “When Gallant adopts the anti-Israel narrative, he hurts the chances of a deal on the hostages.”
He emphasizes that Israel’s goal remains “total victory”, with the elimination of Hamas and the release of the hostages, who remain in the Gaza Strip after the October 7 attack. “This is the clear order of Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Security Council, which is binding on everyone – including Gallant,” he points out.
Gallant hit back by reiterating his commitment to the war aims, but criticizing the “endless leaks” from secret meetings.
The new round of confrontation comes as Israel prepares for a possible attack by Iran and pro-Iranian Hezbollah in Lebanon.
In the wake of the July 27 rocket attack on the occupied Golan Heights that killed 12 people (almost all children), Israel killed a senior Hezbollah official in Beirut. A day later, Hamas political leader Ismail Haniya was assassinated in Tehran, with Iran’s leadership vowing revenge.
This is not the first time Gallant has clashed with Netanyahu. Last year, after months of protests against the controversial plan to reform the justice system, Gallant advocated withdrawing the bill, citing national security risks.
Netanyahu fired him, but tens of thousands of Israelis poured into the streets to show their support for Gallad. The prime minister eventually backed down and the defense minister retained his position.
Since then and on other occasions, Gallant has raised objections to Israel’s strategy in the Gaza Strip, prompting some Likud party officials to call on Prime Minister Netanyahu to fire the defense minister.
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