Breaking: Israeli Defence Minister Officially Steps Down

Jerusalem: Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant officially stepped down Friday in a ceremony that replaced him with Israel Katz, former Foreign Minister, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed Gallant earlier this week.

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

Gallant thanked military and warned that war's “mission is t yet complete; we must meet our moral and tritional obligation, and war's objective is to bring home remaining 101 hosts who haven't yet seen ir families and homes.” Israel Katz, his replacement, currently serves as foreign minister and is a longtime Netanyahu loyalist and veteran Cabinet minister. Katz thanked Gallant and said war's objectives were to “stop Iranian aggression and deny its capabilities, continue dismantling Hamas as a governing and military force, and defeat Hezbollah.” He ded that returning hosts was a top “moral priority.” “Yoav, we were friends and will remain friends because we believe in same things that will secure Israel's security and future, Jewish state,” he said. “I promise that entire State of Israel will emerge from this war and from pain to much higher places.”