Thousands of Israelis protest Netanyahu's policies, Gallant sacking
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Netanyahu's policies have enraged Israeli settlers who took to the streets for the second day to protest his decisions.
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Israeli protesters demand a ceasefire deal that secures the release of 101 Israeli captives still held in the Gaza Strip and the reversal of a decision to sack Yoav Gallant from his position as Minister of Security, in occupied al-Quds, occupied Palestine, on November 6, 2024. (AFP)
Following the sacking of Yoav Gallant from his position as Security Minister by Israeli Prime Minister Benjmain Netanyahu on Tuesday, Israeli protesters took to the streets once again to demonstrate against the decision.
Thousands gathered in occupied al-Quds for the second night in a row, gathering near the Knesset and calling for Netanyahu to reverse the decision.
Israeli settlers are also demanding that Netanyahu reach a deal with the Palestinian Resistance to secure the return of Israeli captives in the Gaza Strip.
Additionally, settlers are enraged with a law meant to exempt ultra-Orthodox Jews from military service and are calling for a commission of inquiry into the events of October 7, 2023.
Gallant said these are the main issues that led to disagreements with Netanyahu and his eventual sacking.
City settlements, including Tel Aviv, are also witnessing protests for the second day in a row, according to the official Israeli broadcaster KAN.
On Tuesday, in a massive and spontaneous demonstration thousands of protesters blocked Tel Aviv's Ayalon Highway, "Israel's" primary traffic route, bringing traffic to a standstill in both directions.
The protest erupted late Tuesday night, with demonstrators starting bonfires and constructing makeshift barricades from uprooted road signs and abandoned construction materials.
The swift and unplanned nature of the protest left police with limited resources on-site, as they were unable to block the highway entrances with trucks, a common tactic for the regular Saturday night protests.
The crowd is estimated to exceed 2,000 people, well above the Israeli occupation forces' (IOF) restrictions on public gatherings in Tel Aviv.
Supposed breach gives Netanyahu full control over key ministry
Netanyahu claimed that his dismissal of Gallant was due to a breach of trust amid the ongoing war on Gaza, according to his office.
In a statement, Netanyahu noted that substantial strategic disagreements had recently surfaced between him and Gallant. Last month, Israeli media reported that Netanyahu was seeking to dismiss Gallant, citing his "obstruction of expanding the attack on Lebanon."
Netanyahu stressed that full trust is "critical" between a PM and a security minister during a war, adding, "Unfortunately, this trust has eroded, and attempts to bridge the gaps have failed."
He asserted that the disagreements were not only made public in an "unacceptable manner" but also reached "Israel's" opponents, who had "derived great benefit" from the matter.
He went on to say that the majority of government and security cabinet members felt the same way.
Moreover, Israel Katz, the former minister of international affairs, finance, and intelligence, will succeed Gallant as security minister. Netanyahu described Katz as a "bulldozer" with "responsibility and quiet determination," praising his considerable expertise and leadership, adding that Katz was well-suited to head the war effort at this crucial time.
Netanyahu also disclosed that he has requested former Justice Minister Gideon Saar to join the cabinet as foreign minister to fill in for Katz.
Read more: The maneuver orchestrated by Netanyahu to bring down Gallant: Maariv
