Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, citing a loss of confidence in his handling of the country’s current military operations, media reported Tuesday.

In a statement, Netanyahu’s office announced that Foreign Minister Israel Katz would take over as the new defense minister. In the meantime, Gideon Saar was named to succeed Katz as foreign minister.

“Over the past few months, this trust has eroded. In light of this, I decided today to end the mandate of the defense minister,” Netanyahu said in a statement released by his office, adding that he had appointed Foreign Minister Israel Katz to take over. his place.

Shortly after the announcement, Yoav Gallant spoke to X and said that Israel’s security would always remain his top priority.

“The security of the State of Israel has been and always will be my life’s mission,” he posted in Hebrew.

Gallant and Netanyahu, both members of the right-wing Likud party, have clashed for months over the goals of Israel’s 13-month war in Gaza against the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Netanyahu noted that he had tried to close the gaps, but they “continued to widen” and became public. “Worse than that, they came to know the enemy and our enemies took advantage of this and gained many benefits.”

Netanyahu said such shortcomings were accompanied by statements and actions that “contradict the decisions of the government and those of the cabinet.”

Gallant has expressed disagreements regarding Israel’s war in the Middle East. Gallant said the war lacked clear direction, while Netanyahu reiterated that the fighting could not stop until Hamas was wiped out as a governing entity and military force in Gaza.

Shortly before the Gaza conflict erupted, Netanyahu fired Gallant over disagreements over the government’s plans to reform Israel’s justice system, but after massive protests the prime minister reinstated him.