His replacement, Katz, is seen as even more hawkish in terms of military strategy.
Another Netanyahu ally, Gideon Saar, who has not previously held any cabinet portfolio, will be the new foreign minister.
The removal of Gallant will take effect in 48 hours. The appointment of new ministers requires the approval of the government and then the Knesset.
Netanyahu fired Gallant for the first time in March 2023 they have since fallen out over controversial plans to reform the justice system.
But he was forced to withdraw the dismissal after massive public protests in several Israeli cities – an event that became known as the “Gallant Night”.
In May of this year Gallant expressed his open frustration with the government’s failure to address the issue of a post-war plan for Gaza. Gallant wanted Netanyahu to publicly state that Israel has no plans to take over civilian and military rule in Gaza.
It was a rare public sign of disagreement within Israel’s military cabinet over the direction of the military campaign.
“Since October, I have constantly raised this issue in the cabinet,” Gallant said, “and have not received an answer.”
Netanyahu responded by saying he was “not ready to trade Hamas for Fatahstan,” referring to rival Palestinian groups Hamas and Fatah.
In response to Galant’s removal, members of Israel’s political opposition parties called for public protests on Tuesday evening.
A group representing the families of people taken hostage by Hamas in the October 7 attack also condemned Netanyahu’s firing, calling it a continuation of efforts to “torpedo” the release deal.
More than 100 of the 251 hostages seized by Hamas on October 7, 2023 remain missing in more than a year of war.
The Forum of Hostages and Families of Missing Persons called on new Minister Katz to “express a clear commitment to ending the war and implementing a comprehensive deal for the immediate return of all abductees.”
Galant’s firing also comes on the day of the US presidential election – a key support for Israel in its war on Gaza – a timing noted by several Israeli media outlets.
Gallant was believed to have a much better relationship with the White House than Netanyahu.
A spokesman for the White House National Security Council said on Tuesday: “Secretary Gallant has been an important partner on all matters related to the defense of Israel. As close partners, we will continue to cooperate with the next Israeli defense minister.”
Observers note that Galant’s removal also comes as Netanyahu is under pressure from far-right politicians to pass a bill that would still allow ultra-Orthodox Israeli citizens to be exempt from military service. Gallant was a vocal opponent of the bill.
