Netanyahu fires security chief, sparking protests amid renewed Gaza offensive

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed Ronen Bar, head of the nation’s Shin Bet security service, over its failure to anticipate the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack.

The Israeli cabinet convened Thursday evening to approve Bar’s early removal, cutting short his five-year term, which began in October 2021.

Netanyahu, in a video statement on Sunday, cited an “ongoing distrust” between them that had “grown over time” as the reason for the decision.

The dismissal has provoked outrage, fueling anti-government protests in Jerusalem, where thousands of Israelis joined demonstrators opposing Israel’s renewed assault on Gaza.

Since Tuesday, Israel has launched an intense wave of attacks on what it claims are Hamas targets, effectively ending a fragile two-month truce.

The Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic intelligence agency, plays a critical role in the war effort, but its operations and personnel remain state secrets. Bar has described his ouster as politically motivated.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, a Netanyahu critic who also faces dismissal proceedings, has argued that Bar’s removal cannot proceed until its legality is reviewed.