The new Defence Minister, Israel Katz, who up until yesterday was the foreign minister, is more hawkish and much more in step with his boss’s thinking.
Following his appointment, he vowed to “achieve the goals of the war”, including “the return of all hostages as the most important moral mission, the destruction of Hamas in Gaza, [and] the defeat of Hezbollah in Lebanon”.
But compared to Gallant, Katz has virtually no military experience.
That will raise concerns here and abroad at a time when Israel is fighting two wars, in Gaza and in Lebanon, which risk further engulfing the wider Middle East.
The cabinet has now lost the last remaining minister who was willing and able to confront Netanyahu, another likely reason Gallant was shown the door.
There have been rumours for months that he was on the verge of being sacked.
The timing of his dismissal on the day of the United States election cannot be ignored.
The former defence minister has a much better relationship with President Joe Biden’s White House than Netanyahu, whose rapport is frosty at best.
His sacking can be seen as one more jab in the eye to the now outgoing US administration.
It will come as no surprise if the Israeli prime minister is much more willing to listen to advice on war strategy handed out by Donald Trump’s team.