Galant, Yoʼav, 1958-

Yoav Gallant (Hebrew: יוֹאָב גָּלַנְטְ‎ yoáv gálant; born 8 November 1958) is an Israeli politician and former military officer who served as minister of defense between 2022 and 2024. Gallant was an officer in the Southern Command of the Israel Defense Forces, serving in the Israeli Navy. In January 2015 he entered politics, joining the new Kulanu party. After being elected to the Knesset he was appointed minister of construction. At the end of 2018 he joined Likud, shortly after which he became minister of Aliyah and Integration. In 2020 he was appointed minister of education, and the following year became minister of defense. On 5 November 2024, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he had dismissed Gallant, effective 7 November, and sought to have Israel Katz replace him. On 21 November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Gallant along with Netanyahu and Hamas leader Mohammed Deif for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the Israel–Hamas war.