Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Middle East Latest: Israeli Defense Minister Officially Steps Down
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 3 weeks ago on
November 8, 2024

Gallant's dismissal sparks protests as Israel prepares new Gaza aid crossing amid U.S. pressure for increased humanitarian assistance. (AP/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant officially stepped down Friday in a ceremony that replaced him with Israel Katz, the former foreign minister, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired Gallant earlier this week.

Israel has been rocked by Gallant’s dismissal, with the news setting off mass protests across the country. Many in Israel view Gallant as the sole moderate voice in a far-right government, and see his removal as a sign that the far-right government of Benjamin Netanyahu has lost interest in returning hostages still held in Gaza.

Israel Katz, his replacement, currently serves as foreign minister and is a longtime Netanyahu loyalist and veteran Cabinet minister.

New Aid Crossing Planned for Gaza

Also Friday, the Israeli military body handling aid to Gaza, COGAT, said it is preparing to open a new aid crossing into Gaza as the deadline for a U.S. deadline to increase desperately-needed aid into the war-ravaged territory approaches. But the body did not say when the crossing will open nor if aid will be delivered to north of Gaza, where the UN and aid groups say the humanitarian situation is most dire.

The United Nations humanitarian office says Israel’s monthlong offensive in northern Gaza is preventing the estimated 75,000 to 95,000 Palestinians in the north from receiving essential items for their survival.

On Thursday, the Israeli military says it will allow 300 truckloads of humanitarian aid supplied by the United Arab Emirates to enter the Gaza Strip in the coming days. That’s less than the 350 trucks per day that the United States said it wants to see enter the war-ravaged territory.

Casualties Mount in Israel-Hamas Conflict

The Israel-Hamas war began after militants stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and abducting 250 others. Israel’s military response in Gaza has killed more than 43,000 people, Palestinian health officials say. They do not distinguish between civilians and combatants, but say more than half of those killed were women and children.

Hezbollah began firing into Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, in solidarity with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Since the conflict erupted, more than 3,100 people have been killed and some 13,800 wounded in Lebanon, the health ministry reported.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Trump Threatens to Impose Sweeping New Tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China

DON'T MISS

49ers QB Brock Purdy Resumes Throwing but Status for Bills Game Unknown

DON'T MISS

Madera Pharmacist Gets 7-Year Federal Sentence for Trafficking Opioids

DON'T MISS

Fresno Set to Roll Out Mental Health CARE Court. How Will It Work?

DON'T MISS

Stock Market Today: Dow Hits Another Record as Stocks Rise

DON'T MISS

Judge in LA Delays Until January Decision on Resentencing Menendez Brothers

DON'T MISS

CHP Launches Thanksgiving Maximum Enforcement to Promote Safe Driving

DON'T MISS

Workers at Charlotte Airport, an American Airlines Hub, Strike During Thanksgiving Travel Week

DON'T MISS

Judge Rejects Request to Sideline a San Jose State Volleyball Player on Grounds She’s Transgender

DON'T MISS

What to Know About the Fresno State Grad Who Is Trump’s Pick for Labor Secretary

UP NEXT

49ers QB Brock Purdy Resumes Throwing but Status for Bills Game Unknown

UP NEXT

Madera Pharmacist Gets 7-Year Federal Sentence for Trafficking Opioids

UP NEXT

Fresno Set to Roll Out Mental Health CARE Court. How Will It Work?

UP NEXT

Stock Market Today: Dow Hits Another Record as Stocks Rise

UP NEXT

Judge in LA Delays Until January Decision on Resentencing Menendez Brothers

UP NEXT

CHP Launches Thanksgiving Maximum Enforcement to Promote Safe Driving

UP NEXT

Workers at Charlotte Airport, an American Airlines Hub, Strike During Thanksgiving Travel Week

UP NEXT

Judge Rejects Request to Sideline a San Jose State Volleyball Player on Grounds She’s Transgender

UP NEXT

What to Know About the Fresno State Grad Who Is Trump’s Pick for Labor Secretary

UP NEXT

Trump Victory Will Lead to New Battles in California’s ‘Water Wars’

Fresno Set to Roll Out Mental Health CARE Court. How Will It Work?

11 hours ago

Stock Market Today: Dow Hits Another Record as Stocks Rise

11 hours ago

Judge in LA Delays Until January Decision on Resentencing Menendez Brothers

11 hours ago

CHP Launches Thanksgiving Maximum Enforcement to Promote Safe Driving

12 hours ago

Workers at Charlotte Airport, an American Airlines Hub, Strike During Thanksgiving Travel Week

12 hours ago

Judge Rejects Request to Sideline a San Jose State Volleyball Player on Grounds She’s Transgender

13 hours ago

What to Know About the Fresno State Grad Who Is Trump’s Pick for Labor Secretary

14 hours ago

Trump Victory Will Lead to New Battles in California’s ‘Water Wars’

14 hours ago

Madera Man Sentenced on Firearms Charges Following Jan. 6 Capitol Breach Conviction

15 hours ago

Community Unites at Fourth Annual One Table Fresno Event, Serving Thousands

15 hours ago

Trump Threatens to Impose Sweeping New Tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China

NEW YORK — President-elect Donald Trump is threatening to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China as soon as he takes office...

10 hours ago

10 hours ago

Trump Threatens to Impose Sweeping New Tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China

11 hours ago

49ers QB Brock Purdy Resumes Throwing but Status for Bills Game Unknown

Picture of Oxycodone bottles and pills
11 hours ago

Madera Pharmacist Gets 7-Year Federal Sentence for Trafficking Opioids

11 hours ago

Fresno Set to Roll Out Mental Health CARE Court. How Will It Work?

11 hours ago

Stock Market Today: Dow Hits Another Record as Stocks Rise

11 hours ago

Judge in LA Delays Until January Decision on Resentencing Menendez Brothers

12 hours ago

CHP Launches Thanksgiving Maximum Enforcement to Promote Safe Driving

An airplane arrives at Charlotte Douglas International Airport as airport workers strike in front of the Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (AP/Nell Redmond)
12 hours ago

Workers at Charlotte Airport, an American Airlines Hub, Strike During Thanksgiving Travel Week

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend