Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed his national security advisor, Tzachi Hanegbi, following reports of disagreements over his policy during the Gaza war, Times of Israel reports.

According to media reports, Hanegbi, a long-time senior member of the Likud party and minister since the 1990s, opposed Netanyahu’s plan to invade Gaza this summer, as well as the unsuccessful strike against Hamas leaders in Qatar last month.

Gil Reich, Hanegbi’s deputy, will immediately serve as acting head of the National Security Council and as the national security advisor. Before assuming the deputy role in 2022, Reich served as deputy director of Israel’s Atomic Energy Commission.

Netanyahu issued a statement thanking Hanegbi for his service and wishing him “great success in future endeavors and health.”

In his statement, Hanegbi acknowledged the disagreements with his former leader.

“I thanked the prime minister for the privilege of being a partner in shaping Israel’s foreign and security policy during difficult years, for the ability to express an independent position in challenging discussions, and for the professional dialogue we maintained even in disagreement,” he said.

He cautioned that the war, which began on October 7, 2023, and during which a ceasefire agreement recently took effect, “is not yet over.”

“Our fighters remain vigilant on multiple fronts,” he added, “and the mission to bring all our hostages home is not yet complete.” He noted that the task of removing terrorist organizations’ control in Gaza, disarming them, and neutralizing Gaza as a threat to Israel remains unfulfilled—neither diplomatically nor militarily.

Netanyahu has defined the war’s objectives as securing the hostages’ return, defeating Hamas, and ensuring Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel.

Hanegbi accepted responsibility for the “terrible failure of October 7” and, in a clear message to the prime minister—who long opposed establishing a state commission to investigate the matter—stated that it “must be thoroughly investigated to draw necessary lessons and restore public trust that has been undermined.”

Netanyahu’s associates told Kan TV that Hanegbi leaked information to the press and damaged the prime minister’s reputation. They also suggested that Netanyahu’s wife, Sara Netanyahu—long rumored to have close involvement in high-level appointments—was dissatisfied with Hanegbi’s work.