Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, whose arrest warrant was sought at the International Criminal Court on Monday, was long a staunch ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but has become a vocal critic.

While the former general remains grimly committed to destroying Hamas over its October 7 attack, he has clashed with Netanyahu on the issue of Gaza’s post-war governance.

While the premier has deferred the issue, Gallant has opposed any Israeli occupation and said “the ‘day after Hamas’ will only be achieved with Palestinian entities taking control of Gaza, accompanied by international actors”.

“I will not agree to the establishment of Israeli military rule in Gaza,” he said in a televised statement last week.

Gallant has been leading Israel’s military offensive in retaliation to the Palestinian militant group’s shock attack on Israel on October 7.