Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has replaced Defence Minister Yoav Gallant due to concerns over his approach to Israel’s ongoing military operations, according to media reports on Tuesday.

In a statement, Netanyahu's office confirmed the appointment of Israel Katz, who currently serves as Foreign Minister, as the new Defence Minister. Gideon Saar will now step into Katz’s former role as Foreign Minister.

“Over recent months, confidence has diminished,” Netanyahu explained in a statement from his office. “Given this, I’ve made the decision to end Gallant’s term and have appointed Israel Katz to the position.”

Shortly after this announcement, Gallant took to social media platform X to affirm his commitment to Israel’s security, posting, “The safety of the State of Israel remains my life’s mission.”

Gallant and Netanyahu, both members of the Likud party, have long differed on the strategy for Israel’s 13-month conflict with Hamas in Gaza. Netanyahu highlighted that despite efforts to resolve their differences, they persisted and even became known to Israel's adversaries.

The disagreement traces back to Gallant’s critiques of Israel’s approach to the Gaza conflict, expressing concerns over the war's direction. In contrast, Netanyahu emphasized that military action would continue until Hamas was dismantled as a governing and military presence in Gaza.

Previously, Netanyahu had removed Gallant over a dispute related to judicial reforms, only to reinstate him amid large-scale protests.