Thousands of Israelis rally against sudden dismissal of ex-defense chief
Thousands of Israelis took to the streets on Wednesday evening to protest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s sudden dismissal of former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
The protesters gathered outside the Knesset in West Jerusalem and then marched to Netanyahu’s residence, expressing their outrage and disappointment over the decision.
Gallant’s firing has sparked widespread criticism, with many accusing Netanyahu of prioritizing his coalition government’s stability over the country’s security. The former defense minister had been at odds with Netanyahu over several issues, including the war in Gaza and the exemption of ultra-Orthodox Jews from military service.
Also Read: Lebanon mourns as seven-month-old baby, 29 other dead bodies recovered from Israeli air strike
The protests, which were also held in Tel Aviv, saw demonstrators chanting slogans against Netanyahu and calling for a prisoner exchange with Hamas to bring home Israelis held in Gaza. They also demanded a formal investigation into Hamas’ October 7 attacks and urged early elections.
Former Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon addressed the crowd, questioning Netanyahu’s decision to replace Gallant with an “unseasoned” defense minister during a time of war.
Ya’alon also criticized Netanyahu’s refusal to draft ultra-Orthodox Jews into the military, despite a significant soldier shortage.
Gallant himself cited three reasons for his dismissal: his opposition to exempting ultra-Orthodox Jews from military service, his insistence on bringing back Israeli prisoners from Gaza alive, and his call for a formal investigation into the October 7 attacks.
The protests come as Israel continues its devastating offensive on Gaza, which has killed nearly 43,400 people and rendered the enclave almost uninhabitable.
Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in the blockaded enclave.
