Def Min Speaks On Hezbollah Situation Amid Speculation Of Replacement

Wires carrying comments from Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant regarding the situation on the country's northern border with Lebanon. Says that "the only way left to return the residents of northern Israel to their homes is via military actions". Says that "the possibility for a diplomatic agreement is running out as Hezbollah continues to tie itself to Hamas".

• Gallant made the comments during a meeting with Amos Hochstein, Deputy Assistant to US President Joe Biden and Senior Adviser for Energy and Investment.
• The defence minister's comments come amid significant media speculation that PM Benjamin Netanyahu could be gearing up to remove Gallant from his position and replace him with former minister Gideon Sa'ar, leader of the opposition New Hope party.
• Bloomberg: "Netanyahu’s office put out a statement soon after the emergence of the reports, carried by broadcaster Kan, the Jerusalem Post and others. While he denied he was in negotiations with Saar, he did not refer to Gallant. “The reports on the matter of negotiations with Gideon Saar are not correct,” Netanyahu’s office said. Gallant’s office declined to comment to Bloomberg."
• Gallant was the sole holdout in an earlier security cabinet vote regarding the continued presence of IDF troops in the Philadelphi corridor. Gallant opposed the continued presence, pointing out that it remains a key obstacle to a ceasefire deal with Hamas, while Netanyahu argues an IDF presence is crucial to stop arms reaching Hamas remnants in Gaza.