The Israeli Defense Minister said Yisrael Katz He will be a defender of the army, and the return of detainees will be his top priority, after his appointment as successor toYoav Galant Who was dismissed by the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
He added that the Israeli army proved during the months of war that “whoever harms Israel will pay a heavy price,” as he described it.
This came during a ceremony at his inauguration as Israeli Defense Minister, according to what was reported by Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.
Katz added that he believes “in winning the war, curbing Iran’s aggression, and undermining Iran’s authority.” agitation And the defeat of Hezbollah,” he said.
Israeli media quoted senior officials in the security services and army as saying, “The appointment of Katz as the new Minister of Defense is worrying and poses a threat to Israel’s security.”
It was possible
A few days ago, the Minister of Defense said the article Yoav Galant It was possible to conclude a prisoner exchange deal, stop military operations, and leave Philadelphia Axis forGaza StripThis was two days after his dismissal.
Gallant explained – in a meeting with a group of families of prisoners detained in Gaza – that there is no reason not to reach a prisoner exchange deal, and that the considerations for rejecting it are neither political nor military.
Gallant urged the families of the prisoners to strengthen their relations with Netanyahu, because “he decides everything himself,” and told them that “the failure of the prisoners to return will be a disgrace to Israel,” as he put it.
Last Tuesday evening, Netanyahu announced Gallant's dismissal, saying that he did not trust his management of the ongoing military operations, and that “the crisis of trust that occurred between them made it impossible to continue managing the war in this way.”
Gallant said that the decision to dismiss him came as a result of disagreements over three issues, the first of which is related to the issue of conscription, as he believes that everyone who is of conscription age should join the army, the second is related to his insistence on returning Israeli detainees in the Gaza Strip as quickly as possible, and the third is related to his insistence that Forming an official investigation body into what happened after October 7, 2023.