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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took decisive action on Tuesday, dismissing Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant due to a deterioration in trust between them. Reports suggest that Netanyahu is also contemplating the removal of top officials from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israel Security Agency (ISA).

The Times of Israel reported that Netanyahu personally delivered the termination letter to Gallant at the prime minister’s office. Following this, Netanyahu released a video statement explaining his decision, citing a gradual erosion of trust and Gallant’s actions that conflicted with government policies, making it untenable for him to continue in his role.

This dismissal didn’t come as a complete surprise, given that Netanyahu had previously removed Gallant from his position in 2023 for insubordination when the latter spoke out against proposed judicial reforms during Netanyahu’s brief absence from the country. Although Netanyahu later reversed that decision, and Gallant had since been a respected figure in managing Israel’s war efforts, he remained a political rival, often advocating for a hostage deal with Hamas, even when such prospects seemed unlikely.

The announcement coincided with Netanyahu refuting allegations that his office had leaked classified information to the media. The ongoing investigation is being managed by the IDF and ISA, with details being kept confidential. Columnist Caroline Glick drew comparisons between the security services’ behavior and an attempted “military coup” in Israel.

Glick suggested that Israel’s defense establishment and legal community, historically at odds with Netanyahu, sought to capitalize on the distraction of U.S. elections to oust him before a potential Donald Trump victory.

These political maneuvers unfolded against the backdrop of potential missile threats from Iran, which has indicated its intention to continue its campaign against Israel, despite Israel’s successful retaliation against previous Iranian attacks last month.

Netanyahu appointed foreign minister Israel Katz to replace Gallant, with Gideon Sa’ar, a former critic turned ally, taking over as Minister of Foreign Affairs. The opposition strongly criticized these changes, prompting street protests on Tuesday night, while Netanyahu’s coalition expressed support for the moves. The long-term political and security implications of these decisions remain uncertain.