Yoav Gallant

Yoav Gallant (Hebrew: יוֹאָב גָּלַנְטְ‎; born 8 November 1958) is an Israeli politician serving as the Ministry of Defense since 2022.

Yoav Gallant in 2023

Quotes

• I have ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip. There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed. We are fighting human animals and we are acting accordingly.
  • Cited in Defense minister announces ‘complete siege’ of Gaza: No power, food or fuel, The Times of Israel (9 October 2023).
• I have released all the restraints, we have (regained) control of the area, and we are moving to a full offense. You will have the ability to change the reality here. You have seen the prices (being paid), and you will get to see the change. Hamas wanted a change in Gaza; it will change 180 degrees from what it thought. They will regret this moment, Gaza will never go back to what it was. Whoever comes to decapitate, murder women, Holocaust survivors, we will eliminate him with all our might, and without compromise.
  • Cited in "Gallant: Israel moving to full offense, Gaza will never go back to what it once was", The Times of Israel (10 October 2023).
  • The murder of at least 1,300 Israelis by Hamas on 7 October 2023 led to the 2023 Israel–Hamas war.

• [Israel] will topple Hamas rule in Gaza. We will eliminate its military capability. We will make sure this threat doesn't exist on our border. It will take time, and it will be lethal, powerful and forever.
  • At a press conference (13 October 2023) following a meeting Gallant had with Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, as cited in "Austin says Hamas attack "worse than ISIS" in Israel visit", Axios (13 October 2023)

• I make it now clear: At the end of the war, Hamas will not control Gaza, there will be no civilian Israeli control in the Gaza Strip, and Tzahal will retain full military freedom of action.
  • Press conference on 5 February 2024