Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed his popular defense minister, Yoav Gallant, in a surprise announcement that came as the country is embroiled in wars on multiple fronts across the region.

Netanyahu and Gallant have repeatedly been at odds over the war in Gaza. Netanyahu had avoided firing his rival until world’s attention was focused on the U.S. presidential election.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has fired defence minister Yoav Gallant, saying there is a “crisis of trust” between them. Netanyahu said in a statement his trust in Gallant had “eroded” in recent months and Foreign Minister Israel Katz would replace Gallant.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, saying longstanding disagreements between them over the conduct of the conflicts with Hamas and Hezbollah had become impossible to bridge.

White House officials are reported to be ‘stunned’ by ouster of a military chief widely trusted in Washington.

Yoav Gallant had emerged as one of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s fiercest and most public critics over his approach to the war in Gaza and the failure to reach a hostage deal with Hamas.