Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Tuesday, citing a "crisis of trust," and replaced him with close ally Israel Katz to lead the country's military operations in Gaza and Lebanon.

The prime minister named Gideon Saar as the new foreign minister in place of Katz.

Netanyahu's critics accused him of putting politics ahead of national security at a time when Israel is bracing for Iranian retaliation to its October 26 air strikes on the Islamic Republic.

Netanyahu said Gallant has made statements that "contradict the decisions of the government and the decisions of the cabinet." In response, Gallant said: "The security of the state of Israel always was and will always remain my life's mission."

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a group representing families of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, released a statement saying the move is part of Netanyahu's efforts to thwart a potential hostage deal. The group noted that Gallant had supported a hostage-for-ceasefire exchange, emphasizing that Israel has met its objectives in Gaza, while Netanyahu continues to call for the conflict's continuation until "total victory" over Hamas.

Katz vowed the return of Israel's hostages from Gaza and destruction of Hamas and Hezbollah.

As foreign minister, Katz barred UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres from entering Israel over what he described as a failure to condemn an Iranian missile attack and anti-Semitic conduct in September. He also rejected a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon.

The decision was met with widespread criticism due to Katz's limited senior military experience.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said on X, that "firing Gallant in the middle of a war is an act of madness."

In Washington, a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, said Gallant had been an important partner and that it would continue working collaboratively with Katz.