Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant after months of clashes over domestic politics and Israel’s war efforts. In a recorded statement Tuesday evening, Netanyahu said that “trust between me and the minister of defense has cracked.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s shock firing of his defense chief on Tuesday night removed a cabinet critic, but it also deepened anger among opponents over his handling of the country’s multifront conflict.

Yoav Gallant was a moderating force in the Netanyahu government and had a strong relationship with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. His firing comes as Israel wages war in Gaza, Lebanon, and on multiple other fronts.