Tue Oct 21 19:33:54 UTC 2025: Summary:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has fired National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi amid reports of disagreements over the handling of the war in Gaza. Gil Reich, the deputy head of the National Security Council, will be appointed as acting head. Hanegbi called for an investigation into the failures leading to the October 7th attack. Opposition figures accuse Netanyahu of avoiding responsibility for the attack and replacing dissenting voices with loyalists.

News Article:

Netanyahu Ousts Security Advisor Amid Gaza War Disputes, Appoints Acting Replacement

Jerusalem – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi, citing his intention to appoint a new head of the National Security Council (NSC). The Prime Minister’s office announced that Gil Reich, the deputy head of the NSC, will serve as acting head.

The move follows weeks of speculation regarding growing tensions between Netanyahu and Hanegbi over the handling of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Israeli media reports suggest the disagreements stemmed from Hanegbi’s opposition to a full military takeover of Gaza City and his preference for pursuing a partial deal with Hamas.

Hanegbi, a veteran Likud politician and long-time Netanyahu ally, held the position since 2023. He released a statement acknowledging the end of his term and calling for a “thorough investigation” into the failures that led to the October 7th attack by Hamas. “The terrible failure… must be thoroughly investigated to ensure that the appropriate lessons are learned and to help restore the trust that has been shattered,” Hanegbi stated, admitting his shared responsibility.

However, Netanyahu’s government has yet to establish a commission to investigate the events of October 7th, leading to accusations from the opposition that the Prime Minister is stalling the process.

Former Israeli army chief and opposition politician Gadi Eisenkot criticized Hanegbi’s dismissal, describing it as “an expression of the continued evasion of responsibility by all Cabinet members and the Prime Minister of the October 7 debacle – in order to replace them with yes-men.”

The appointment of Gil Reich as acting head of the NSC comes at a critical time for Israel, as the war in Gaza continues and questions linger regarding the government’s handling of security failures.

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