Thousands protest against Israeli Premier Netanyahu for dismissing Gallant as defense minister

By Zein Khalil

JERUSALEM (AA) – Thousands of Israelis protested outside the Knesset, or parliament, in West Jerusalem on Wednesday evening, then marched to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's home to oppose the dismissal of former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

Netanyahu fired Gallant on Tuesday evening, appointing Israel Katz as defense minister and Gideon Sa'ar, the leader of the National Right Party, as foreign minister in his place.

The decision sparked widespread outrage, with Netanyahu accused of sacrificing an experienced defense official to keep his coalition government intact.

Following Gallant's "dramatic" firing, thousands of Israelis gathered in Agranat Square near the Knesset, according to Yedioth Ahronoth.

Haaretz reported that demonstrators marched to Netanyahu’s residence, chanting against Gallant's dismissal, calling for a prisoner exchange with Hamas to bring home Israelis held in Gaza, demanding a formal investigation into Hamas' Oct. 7 attacks, and urging early elections.

Former Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon addressed the crowd, saying, “Who would believe a prime minister would replace an experienced defense minister with an unseasoned one during the war (in Gaza) just to keep his coalition together?”

Ya'alon, who served as defense minister from 2013 to 2016, also questioned Netanyahu's refusal to draft ultra-Orthodox Jews, or Haredim, into the military despite a 20,000-soldier shortage, saying, "Who would believe a prime minister would sabotage efforts for prisoner release?"

In his first appearance after his firing, Gallant said on Tuesday that his dismissal was due to three issues: his opposition to exempting Haredim from military service, his insistence on bringing back Israeli prisoners from Gaza alive, and his call for a formal investigation into the Oct. 7 attacks.

Social media quickly filled with calls for protests across Israel, with the largest gathering in Tel Aviv, where tens of thousands blocked Ayalon Highway in both directions for about four hours, chanting slogans against Netanyahu.

Gallant’s dismissal comes as Israel continues a devastating offensive on Gaza since a Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, killing nearly 43,400 people and rendering the enclave almost uninhabitable.

Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in the blockaded enclave.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio