Yoav Galant warns that Netanyahu keeps the Army in Gaza for no reason in his farewell to the Defense Ministry

Israel’s outgoing Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, warned relatives of hostages still in the Gaza Strip on Thursday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is keeping troops in the enclave for no reason, according to several. Israeli media, a few hours after he was dismissed.

In a meeting with the families of those kidnapped, Gallant assured that “there is nothing left to do in Gaza. The major objectives have been achieved,” reports Israeli news channel 12.

The official, whose dismissal became effective this afternoon, also said that the president has the final say in the negotiations for an exchange of hostages with Hamas, and that both he and the military officials already believed in July that the moment was optimal. to reach an agreement, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

Netanyahu announced Gallant’s dismissal on Tuesday night, after months of rumors about his intention to get rid of one of the most powerful ministers who has most opposed him on issues such as the management of the war in Gaza, the negotiations to free the hostages or military exemption for ultra-Orthodox Jews.

Already on the night of his dismissal, Gallant warned in a speech that the main reason for his dismissal was his “firm stance on universal conscription (including ultra-Orthodox Jews), commitment to rescuing hostages, and the need for a state commission of inquiry into October 7.”

The current Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, will replace Gallant as head of the Defense portfolio, and it is expected that Netanyahu’s former ally Gideon Saar, who joined the government coalition at the end of September with a position of minister without portfolio, takes Katz’s place.

The main Israeli media interpret Netanyahu’s decision as an attempt to consolidate his power over the country, at a time when Israeli forces maintain two parallel offensives (in Gaza and Lebanon) and tension with Iran and its satellite groups continues. to grow

Gallant says goodbye thanking the US for its help

The outgoing Israeli Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, said goodbye to his position this Thursday, thanking the “extraordinary support” of the United States in the Israeli offensive against Gaza, in a telephone conversation with his American counterpart, Lloyd Austin.

“Thank you to Secretary Austin and the United States Administration for their extraordinary support during Israel’s darkest hour,” said Gallant, referring to the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023 against Israel that left some 1,200 dead and 250 injured. the Israeli offensive against Gaza that has caused the death of 43,469 Palestinians and the injury of another 102,561.

Since the beginning of the offensive, the United States, Israel’s main ally, spent between 17.9 billion dollars and 22 billion dollars in military aid, according to the EFE agency.

“I expressed my deep gratitude to the Secretary for his collaboration and his deep commitment to defense cooperation between our countries and to the security of the State of Israel,” Gallant wrote on his X social network account (formerly Twitter). According to Gallant, the ties between the two states are “fundamental to the security and prosperity of the State of Israel and the Jewish people.”