Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu fired his defense minister, Yoav Gallant

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant following months of disagreements over domestic politics and Israel's war efforts.

Netanyahu said that "trust between me and the minister of defense has cracked" in a statement that was recorded Tuesday night.

Gallant and Netanyahu have frequently clashed over the Gaza War. Netanyahu, however, had escaped dismissing his opponent. In his declaration on Tuesday night, Netanyahu mentioned "significant gaps" and a "crisis of trust" between the two.

"In the midst of a war, more than ever, full trust is required between the prime minister and defense minister," Netanyahu said. "Unfortunately, although in the first months of the campaign there was such trust and there was very fruitful work, during the last months this trust cracked between me and the defense minister."

The incumbent foreign minister, Israel Katz, will take over as defense minister. The prime minister's office announced on Tuesday that Gideon Sa'ar will take Katz's post as foreign minister. Katz has been in the cabinet during the conflict, but neither has much military experience.

Shortly after the announcement, Gallant posted on X in response to the decision, saying that "security of Israel has been and will always be my lifelong mission."

While declining to comment on the dismissal, the White House described Galant as "an important partner on all matters related to the defense of Israel" on Tuesday.

"As close partners, we will continue to work collaboratively with Israel's next Minister of Defense," the White House National Security Council said.

Massive countrywide protests followed Netanyahu's initial attempt to dismiss Gallant last year for opposing proposed court reforms. Opposition leaders urged Israelis to demonstrate in the streets just minutes after Netanyahu's declaration.

However, he was compelled to revoke the dismissal after widespread public outcry in a number of Israeli cities, which came to be known as "Gallant Night."

Protests broke out in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. "Shame!" was yelled by demonstrators outside Netanyahu's Jerusalem home. Families of hostages detained in Gaza screamed, "Bibi is a traitor," referencing the prime minister's nickname, as demonstrators stopped a major highway in Tel Aviv.