Israel Katz has officially taken over as Israel's Defense Minister after being sworn in before parliament on Thursday. Katz's appointment follows the recent dismissal of Yoav Gallant by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu due to disagreements during the ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza.

Gallant’s departure from his role came after persistent clashes with Netanyahu over Israel's military response to Hamas and internal policy disputes, particularly around military service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox men. Gallant had pushed for their inclusion in military conscription, while Netanyahu preferred to maintain the exemption to avoid straining his coalition with ultra-Orthodox parties.

Katz, formerly Israel’s foreign minister, committed to a strong stance against Israel’s adversaries, underscoring his intent to lead decisively during the current conflict. His final days in his previous role were complicated by a diplomatic incident involving the brief detention of two French gendarmes at a French-owned church site in Jerusalem, prompting the French foreign minister to cancel a scheduled visit to the location.

Netanyahu’s decision to remove Gallant amid wartime has faced widespread criticism, with opposition leaders condemning the timing, and the move has triggered protests across Israel.