Netanyahu Fires Israel National Security Chief Over Gaza Dispute

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed Tzachi Hanegbi, the head of Israel's National Security Council, amid reported disagreements over the Gaza war strategy. Hanegbi opposed a full military takeover of Gaza City and the strike on a building in Qatar housing Hamas leaders, and called for a thorough investigation into the security failures during the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, which killed about 1,200 people. Despite pressure, Netanyahu's government has yet to establish an independent inquiry into the October 7 incident, leading to accusations of stalling from the opposition and public. Hanegbi acknowledged his shared responsibility for the failures and emphasized the importance of restoring public trust through investigation. Netanyahu appointed Gil Reich, the deputy head of the National Security Council, as the acting head following Hanegbi's removal. The dismissal also sparked criticism accusing Netanyahu of evading responsibility for the security lapses that precipitated the war.