On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant exchanged sharp criticisms, highlighting ongoing internal divisions within the government amid fears that the conflict in Gaza might escalate into a broader regional war. The tensions arose after Israeli media reported Gallant dismissing Netanyahu’s goal of achieving total victory over Hamas in Gaza as “nonsense.” In response, Netanyahu’s office issued a statement condemning Gallant’s remarks.

The statement asserted that Gallant’s adoption of an anti-Israel stance undermines the possibility of securing a hostage deal. It emphasized that Israel’s objective remains “total victory,” which includes the defeat of Hamas and the release of hostages taken by Hamas on October 7 of the previous year.

The public rebuke of Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, who has frequently clashed with Prime Minister Netanyahu and the nationalist-religious parties in the coalition, is the latest instance of internal discord since the government took office in 2022. Netanyahu previously attempted to dismiss Gallant over his opposition to proposed Supreme Court reforms, only to reverse his decision amid massive protests from hundreds of thousands of Israelis. This latest dispute comes as efforts are underway to revive Egyptian and Qatari-mediated talks aimed at ending the Gaza conflict and securing the release of 115 Israeli and foreign hostages still held in the area. Hamas has accused Netanyahu of stalling negotiations and not genuinely seeking a resolution.

Source: Reuters