Thousands of Israelis took to the streets in the center Tel Aviv protest against sudden dismissal of defense minister Yoav Gallant in the middle Israelongoing war Gaza And Lebanon.

Mr Gallant, a popular minister and provocateur, was fired by the prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu due to “significant gaps” and a “crisis of confidence” affected the war.

Both men have repeatedly disagreed over the war in Gaza. Mr Gallant was replaced by Israel Katz – a sitting foreign minister and a long-time loyalist of Mr. Netanyahu.

“Unfortunately, there was so much trust in the first months of the campaign and very productive work was done, but in recent months this trust has cracked between me and the defense minister,” the Prime Minister said.

A grassroots forum representing hostage families said Mr. Gallant’s dismissal was “a direct continuation of ‘efforts’ to undermine the kidnapper agreement.”

Soon after, thousands of protesters gathered in central Tel Aviv, blocking the city’s main highway and holding protests carrying blue-and-white Israeli flags. Protesters carried banners reading “We want better leaders”, while some lit fires in the middle of the highway, bringing traffic to a halt.

“The security of the State of Israel has been and always will be my life’s mission,” the former defense minister said on social media as protests against his firing continued on Tuesday night.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog described Gallant’s dismissal as “the last thing Israel needs”, while opposition leader Yair Lapir described the move as “an act of madness”.

“Netanyahu is selling Israel’s security and the soldiers of the Israeli army for a shameful political survival,” Lapir said in a statement to X.

Israeli television channels showed police grappling with protesters blocking roads in many points across the country.

The dismissal comes as Israel faces growing pressure over its expanded military offensive into the Middle East, which experts fear could potentially escalate into a full-scale war.

Israel’s year-long war in Gaza has killed more than 43,000 Palestinians and injured more than 100,000, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip. The offensive on Gaza began when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel on October 7 last year, killing nearly 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages.

Israel has since launched an attack on Lebanon and has also bombed Syria and Iran for their support of militant groups. Hundreds of Israeli soldiers lost their lives in the clashes.

In response to an Iranian missile attack on October 1, Iran vowed to avenge Israel’s attack; this attack was in retaliation for previous Israeli attacks against Iran-linked targets.

Israeli police arrested more than two dozen protesters on Tuesday. Haaretz reported. Police also used water cannon to disperse crowds from a major highway as protests continued across the country into the early hours of Wednesday.

Protesters pressed the Israeli government to rescue what they described as “forgotten hostages” and called for a one-day “civil strike” starting Wednesday. The crowd chanted, “Netanyahu is endangering the soldiers.”

Protest organizations said in their statement: “We are not waiting for the heads of the economy and unions as of tomorrow and we are stopping the country indefinitely.” Jerusalem Post.

Mr Netanyahu’s previous attempt to fire Mr Gallant in March 2023 had led to widespread street protests against the prime minister.

Mr Gallant announced at a late-night press conference that he disagreed with the prime minister on three main issues: the need to end controversial exemptions to the conscription of ultra-Orthodox men, the urgent need for a hostage agreement and the need to establish a hostage agreement. The official commission of inquiry into political and security failures will be established on October 7.

Israel estimates that about 100 hostages are still in captivity, of which only 65 are alive.

A day earlier, Mr. Gallant had announced that he had sent thousands of draft notices to young ultra-Orthodox men who had previously been exempt from compulsory military service.

Channel 13 television said that Netanyahu eliminated his opponent by taking advantage of the US elections, where America’s attention was focused elsewhere.

The White House declined to comment on the firing but called Gallant “an important partner on all matters related to Israel’s defense.”

“As close partners, we will continue to work cooperatively with Israel’s next defense secretary,” the White House National Security Council said.