Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, appointing Israel Katz in his place, a decision that has sparked widespread protests across the country.

In a surprising announcement on Tuesday, Netanyahu cited a loss of confidence in Gallant over his handling of Israel’s conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.

“Over recent months, that trust has eroded,” Netanyahu stated through his office. “In light of this, I decided today to end the defense minister’s term.”

The statement emphasized that differences between Netanyahu and Gallant had “widened” and became publicly visible, even to Israel’s adversaries, who “took satisfaction and derived substantial advantage from this discord.”

Netanyahu appointed Foreign Minister Israel Katz as the new defense minister, while Gideon Saar has stepped in as the new foreign minister.