TEL AVIV—Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired his defense minister, Yoav Gallant, at a time when the country continues to fight wars in Gaza and Lebanon, and is increasingly in direct confrontation with Iran.

Netanyahu and Gallant have repeatedly been at odds over the war in Gaza. Netanyahu had avoided firing his rival until world’s attention was focused on the U.S. presidential election.

Netanyahu appointed Foreign Minister Israel Katz to succeed Gallant. It comes as Israel is in the middle of two wars, and is bracing for an attack from Iran.