Tens of thousands take to streets in ‘Night of Gallant 2’ – but protests over DM’s dismissal stay smaller than last time

Tens of thousands of Israelis took to the streets in protest over the second dismissal of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Tuesday night – but this time, demonstrations stayed much smaller, making it unlikely public pressure will succeed in overturning the prime minister’s decision once again.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Tuesday evening that Foreign Minister Israel Katz will replace Gallant, while Gideon Sa’ar, who only recently joined the coalition government, will take over Katz’s post as Foreign Minister.

Netanyahu had already fired Gallant in March 2023 for publicly disagreeing with him during the judicial reforms. Following massive, countrywide protests, Netanyahu relented and reinstated Gallant as defense minister.

Following the announcement, tens of thousands joined protests in Haifa, Netanya and Beersheba and at junctions across the country, in addition to major demonstrations in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

Dozens ignored the IDF’s Home Front instructions and gathered in towns across northern Israel, including the town of Nahariya, despite continuing rocket fire from Hezbollah.

Two protesters were arrested in Haifa, while other demonstrations blocked several central intersections on Highway 4 in central Israel. In Jerusalem, demonstrators clashed with police and broke through barricades before the gathering was declared an “illegal protest” and dispersed by force.

Three demonstrators were detained for “attacking police and breaking through barriers” near the Prime Minister's Residence, police later said.

In Tel Aviv, protesters blocked the traffic on the Ayalon Highway and lit several fires on the road. 

After clashes broke out between police and protesters, the police for the first time used its “skunk” cannon, which sprays foul-smelling liquid, to disperse protesters and clear the central highway.

קצין משטרה דוחף את ח״כ גלעד קריב באיילון צפון pic.twitter.com/5db7VAFKPH

— Bar Peleg (@bar_peleg) November 5, 2024

Knesset Member Gilad Kariv (The Democrats) was filmed wrangling with police officers in Tel Aviv, while his party colleague MK Naama Lazimi told Maariv, “They arrested my advisor.”

“An officer and fighter who was wounded in Gaza, [he was arrested] because he came with me to help the families of the hostages who blocked the road, as a protest against the replacement of the Defense Minister in order to abandon their children in captivity in Gaza.”

Around 40 protesters were detained during the protests in Tel Aviv, according to media reports.

Rami, a reserve officer who served in the IDF for several months since the start of the war, arrived at the Tel Aviv protest with friends from nearby Givatayim.

He told Maariv, “We, the fighters, can recognize danger. When Gallant was fired, Netanyahu actually harmed the soldiers who protect the borders. This is crossing a border, he probably prefers the ultra-Orthodox over us.”

While the first night of protests stayed far beyond expectations and hopes of left-wing parties and protest groups, Yair Golan, the chairman of the party The Democrats, called for a general strike in the coming days.

“I call on all the heads of the universities and all the heads of the colleges - strike. I call on all the heads of the economy, strike. I call on all the heads of the security establishment: Raise a cry, even now while you are in uniform.”

“I call on all citizens of Israel, take to the streets. Netanyahu is destroying Israel and only we can save it,” Golan said.