Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant officially stepped down in a ceremony on Friday, being replaced by Israel Katz, the former Foreign Minister, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed Gallant earlier in the week.
Gallant's firing has caused mass protests across Israel, with many viewing him as the sole moderate voice in a far-right government. His removal is seen as a sign that the government may have lost interest in returning hostages still held in Gaza by Hamas militants.
Gallant, in his farewell speech, emphasized that the mission is not complete and stressed the importance of bringing home the remaining hostages. Katz, the new defense minister, expressed gratitude to Gallant and outlined the objectives of the ongoing conflict, including stopping Iranian aggression, dismantling Hamas, and defeating Hezbollah. He also highlighted the priority of returning the hostages as a moral imperative.
Humanitarian Situation in Gaza
The United Nations humanitarian office reported that Israel's offensive in northern Gaza has hindered the delivery of essential items to an estimated 75,000 to 95,000 Palestinians in the region. In response, the Israeli military announced that it would allow 300 truckloads of humanitarian aid from the United Arab Emirates to enter Gaza, although this falls short of the desired daily aid quantity requested by the United States.
Conflict Update
The Israel-Hamas conflict began with militants entering Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in casualties and abductions. The subsequent military response in Gaza has led to significant Palestinian casualties, with more than 43,000 reported deaths. In solidarity with Hamas, Hezbollah also engaged in hostilities, resulting in casualties and injuries in Lebanon.
Turkey's Stance
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed hope that the incoming US administration would work towards ending conflicts in the Middle East. Erdogan called for an end to Israeli aggression and suggested cutting off US arms support to Israel as a step towards resolving conflicts in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories.
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