Yoav Gallant is an Israeli politician and former soldier. A general and commander of the Southern Command in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), he was initially chosen in to succeed Gabi Ashkenazi as the next Chief of General Staff in 2011 by Defense Minister Ehud Barak. Although the government approved his appointment, it was later canceled by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Barak following months of scandal surrounding his appointment due to allegations that he had seized public lands for his personal use near his home.

In January 2015, he entered politics, joining the new Kulanu party. After being elected to the Knesset, he was appointed Minister of Construction.

.Gallant was born in November 1958 in Jaffa. His mother, Fruma, was a Holocaust survivor and his father, Michael, served in the Givati Brigade in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, including the Samson’s Foxes unit. Michael participated in Operation Yoav and named his son for the operation. Gallant received a BA in Business and Finance Management from the University of Haifa. Gallant lives in moshav Amikam.

He is married to Claudine, a retired IDF lieutenant colonel. They have a son and two daughters

Gallant began his military career in 1977 as a naval commando in the 13th Flotilla. In the 1980s, after six years in the flotilla, he moved to Alaska and worked as a lumberjack. He then returned to the navy and served on a missile boat (including a position as deputy commander of INS Keshet) and again in the 13th Flotilla. In 1992, Gallant was earmarked by then-navy commander Ami Ayalon for the command of the 13th Flotilla, a position he was meant to take up in 1994. Gallant preferred not to study during the two remaining years and instead moved into the ground forces and, in 1993, took up command of the Menashe (Jenin) Brigade of the West Bank Division.

After serving for three years as commander of the 13th Flotilla, Gallant moved up to command the Gaza Division. He also commanded the reserve 340th Armored Division (Idan Formation), and in 2001 became the Chief of Staff of the GOC Army Headquarters. Gallant attained the rank of a major general when he became the Military Secretary of the Prime Minister in 2002. In 2005, Gallant was appointed as commander of the Southern Command. During his tenure (which lasted until October 21, 2010), the IDF embarked on Operation Cast Lead against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Gallant commanded the operation, and his role in the field and in the success of the operation gained praise and helped him in the race for Chief of Staff.

The Israeli NGO, Yesh Gvul, filed suit against Gallant’s appointment as IDF chief of staff, claiming that his command role in Cast Lead confirmed him as a suspect in "grave violations of international law." Haaretz noted that Gallant lobbied against an investigation of Col. Ilan Malka, the IDF commander who approved the airstrike that killed 21 members of the al-Samouni clan during Cast Lead. Gallant’s view was ignored as the military prosecutor general opened an investigation of the incident, which was highlighted by the Goldstone Report (since disavowed by its author) as a possible serious breach of international law.

On 22 August 2010, Minister of Defense Ehud Barak presented the candidacy of Gallant for the post of the IDF’s twentieth Chief of Staff to the government. It was expected that he would receive the promotion. Gallant’s appointment followed a controversy, where a forged document was transferred to Israel’s Channel 2, which accused Gallant of attempting to smear rival candidate Benny Gantz.

On 5 September 2010, the government approved the nomination of Yoav Gallant as the next Chief of Staff, with only Likud minister Michael Eitan objecting. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the incoming IDF chief has "proven his worth during his 33 years of military service at the IDF’s frontlines," and that "He’s proven himself to be a courageous fighter, an excellent officer, and a responsible and serious battle commander." The PM added that Gallant picked up on a legacy of "dedication and excellence" bequeathed by incumbent IDF chief Gabi Ashkenazi. The cabinet also approved Barak’s proposal, according to which Gallant would serve for three years, giving the defense minister power to grant a fourth.

On 1 February 2011, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak canceled the appointment of Gallant to the post of Israel Defense Forces chief. The announcement came after months of scandal surrounding his appointment due to allegations that he had seized public lands near his home in Moshav Amikam. After conducting an investigation into the allegations, Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein said that his findings "raise significant legal difficulties for the decision to appoint him." Weinstein said that it was up to the prime minister and defense minister to decide whether or not Gallant could take up the post as the new IDF chief of staff. Earlier in the day, Weinstein notified Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he could not defend Gallant’s appointment as chief of staff due to legal impediments.

On December 30, 2012, the local planning committee administrating land ownership issues and building licenses said that Gallant had built his home in the northern community of Amikam on 350m² of property accidentally listed as his, unaware that it was actually public land. The decision didn’t address two other issues still being investigated by the state comptroller and attorney general: the building of an unauthorized access road to his house and the planting of an olive grove that spilled over the boundaries of his property.

In January 2015, Gallant joined the new Kulanu party. He was placed second on the party’s list for the 2015 elections and was elected to the Knesset as the party won ten seats. He was later appointed Minister of Construction in the new government.

In the 2022 election, Gallant ran on the Likud slate and was appointed Defense Minister following Netanyahu’s victory.

On November 5, 2024, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the dismissal of Gallant, citing a ‘crisis of trust’ that had intensified over time. Netanyahu’s decision comes amid tensions with the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party following his reversal on a bill intended to incentivize haredi students to avoid military service—an issue also opposed by Gallant. Additionally, a day prior, Gallant had ordered the issuance of 7,000 draft notices for ultra-Orthodox Jews, further angering the Haredi parties. Gallant responded by emphasizing that protecting the state remains his priority.

On November 21, 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Gallant based on Khan’s allegation that they were responsible “for the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare.” The court added, “There are reasonable grounds to believe that the lack of food, water, electricity and fuel, and specific medical supplies, created conditions of life calculated to bring about the destruction of part of the civilian population in Gaza, which resulted in the death of civilians, including children due to malnutrition and dehydration.”

On November 26, 2024, following reports of a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, Gallant stressed on X that Israel’s decisive actions against Hezbollah—including the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah, dismantling terror infrastructure, and destroying over 80% of Hezbollah’s missile capabilities—have reshaped the northern border’s reality from a position of strength. Gallant asserted that in the Middle East, only decisive action ensures security, emphasizing Israel’s right and duty to enforce any ceasefire independently and respond forcefully to Hezbollah violations.

Sources: Lis, Jonathan "Cabinet votes Gallant in as next IDF chief of staff," Haaretz. (September 6, 2010).
Pfeffer, Anshel; Ravid, Barak (2010-08-22). "Yoav Gallant Named as Next Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff," Haaretz. (August 22, 2010).
Yoav Gallant’s Race to the Top," Ynetnews (August 24, 2010).
Greenberg, Hanan "1st Chief of Staff from Naval Commando," Ynetnews. (August 28, 2010).
Katz, Yaakov. "Who is Yoav Gallant?" Jerusalem Post (March 10, 2015).
Schmidtberg, Ariel. "Odyssey in Algeria," Israel HaYom. (April 28, 2009).
Buhbut, Amir. "From the Flotilla to Chief of Staff: Yoav Gallant’s Persona," nrg Maariv. (August 28, 2010).
"Injunction Against Gallant’s Appointment: "Suspected of War Crimes"". Walla. (October 25, 2010).
"IDF probes top officers on Gaza war strike that killed 21 family members," Haaretz. (October 22, 2010).
Lis, Jonathan. (August 23, 2010). "Grumbling Aside, Gallant’s Approval all but Assured" Haaretz. Retrieved 2010-08-28.
Yehoshua, Yossi. "Suspect in Gallant Affair Denies Involvement". Ynetnews. (August 20, 2010).
Haaretz Service. "Netanyahu, Barak announce Gallant no longer new IDF chief," Haaretz (February 1, 2011)
Kalman, Aaron. "Former IDF general partially cleared in land scandal that stopped his appointment as chief of staff," Times of Israel (December 20, 2012).
“Netanyahu fires Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on day of US elections,” Jerusalem Post, (November 5, 2024).
Ron Kampeas, “International Criminal Court issues arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister,” JTA, (November 21, 2024).
@yoavgallant, (November 26, 2024).
Wikipedia.

Photo: Avi Ohayon / Government Press Office of Israel, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.