After Dispute Over Capture of Gaza City, Netanyahu Fires Long-time Ally as National Security Adviser

 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed Tzachi Hanegbi, as his national security adviser. In a statement released on Tuesday evening, the prime minister said that he intended to appoint the deputy director of the National Security Council, Gil Reich, as acting director. It is expected that Reich's appointment will be temporary and that Netanyahu will seek a permanent replacement shortly.

Neither Hanegbi nor the Prime Minister's Office have explained Hanegbi's departure. In recent months, there have been media leaks indicating several major disagreements between Hanegbi and Netanyahu.

In his own statement on his dismissal, Hanegbi took responsibility for his role in the failings that enabled Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. "The terrible failure on October 7, which I am a partner to, should be thoroughly investigated to ensure that the appropriate lessons are learned and to assist in restoring that trust that has been ]damaged[," he said. "Action should be taken to heal the wounds in Israeli society and to strengthen unity."

Following his appointment as national security adviser, Hanegbi was considered a close confidant of the prime minister's and was a full partner in decision-making. His selection for the position was considered unusual because he was a political figure rather than a professional. In recent months, the leaked reports in the media of serious disagreements between the two, included what sources said was Hanegbi's opposition in security cabinet meetings to the recent operation to conquer Gaza City.

Hanegbi also opposed Israel's failed attempt to assassinate the leaders of Hamas in the Qatari capital, Doha, in September but supported exhausting contacts aimed at a deal for the release of a portion of the hostages who were being held in Gaza at the time. Netanyahu decided on a shift in approach to pursue an overall agreement for all of the hostages, which in the end was a component of President Donald Trump's plan for Gaza.

Hanegbi has been dealing for an extended period with health problems that have affected his ongoing capacity to function. In September of last year, he said that he underwent a medical procedure that required his absence from work for several weeks.

As part of his job, Hanegbi ran the meetings of the security cabinet. On the eve of the October 7 attack, he made the assessment that Hamas was being deterred. Prior to that, in 2021, following hostilities between Israel and Hamas, Hanegbi expressed the view that Hamas had sustained such a heavy blow that it wouldn't dare attack Israel for the following 15 years. And several days before the October 7 attack in 2023, he said that Hamas was being "restrained." He acknowledged in retrospect that he had been wrong, but he didn't resign.