Netanyahu sacks defence minister Gallant over 'crisis of trust'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has fired his defence minister Yoav Gallant.

The move comes 14 months into the Middle East war sparked by the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023.

Mr Netanyahu said a "crisis of trust" had developed between him and Mr Gallant.

He said there had been too many "significant gaps" between them over the management of Israel's wars.

The two have often been at odds over the handling of the Gaza war.

A previous attempt to fire Mr Gallant in March last year led to widespread street protests against Mr Netanyahu.

Trust between the pair "broke down a long time ago," Sky News' Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall said.

"To fire your defence minister at this moment will be seen as a reckless move by many and a lot of people will conclude that it has been done purely for Netanyahu's own political survival."

It comes amid a backdrop of arguments around the drafting of Haredi Jewish students into the IDF, with Mr Gallant being a proponent of drafting them into the military.

Mr Netanyahu appointed the foreign minister, Israel Katz, to succeed Mr Gallant as defence minister.

Gideon Saar will become the new foreign minister, the prime minister's office said in a statement.

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