Call Me Back - with Dan Senor

FORMER DEFENSE MINISTER YOAV GALLANT: Part 1 - Four Days In October

Feb 13, 2025

Yoav Gallant, former Israeli Defense Minister, provides a gripping firsthand account of the early days of the war with Hamas and Hezbollah. He reflects on the pivotal date of October 11, 2023, revealing critical decisions that shaped the conflict's trajectory. Gallant shares personal stories intertwined with military insights, discussing the emotional toll of warfare and the importance of transparency. He highlights strategic challenges, including preemptive actions against Hezbollah, and emphasizes accountability and leadership during crises.

01:22:38

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Yoav Gallant

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Quick takeaways

Yoav Gallant's extensive military background and personal experiences shape his leadership approach during strategic decision-making in the war against Hamas and Hezbollah.

The podcast format allows for a thorough exploration of the war's complexities, contrasting with typical media's condensed narratives and highlighting essential strategic insights.

Gallant emphasizes the need for accountability and emotional connection with civilians affected by the conflict, reflecting on leadership responsibilities during times of war.

Deep dives

Generals of a Historic Conflict

The podcast presents General Yoav Gallant, a central figure in the recent war involving Israel on multiple fronts, providing an in-depth account of his experiences. Gallant emphasizes the war's unprecedented nature, highlighting how his long-form conversation allows for a fuller understanding of its complexities, compared to typical media sound bites. He notes that the insights shared extend beyond battles to encompass significant deliberate strategies and decisions made at leadership levels. This narrative aims to clarify the domestic political context in Israel, the military's actions, and the geopolitical dynamics at play.

Intro

2min

Reflections on War and Identity

13min

Reflections on October 7th: A Day of Crisis and Decision

3min

Chaos and Courage in Conflict

15min

Strategic Missed Opportunities Against Hezbollah

19min

Strategic Military Operations and Technological Impact

3min

High-Stakes Military Operations

23min

Analyzing Israel's Strategic Shifts and Hostage Dilemmas

5min

Watch the conversation here: https://youtu.be/aPEPztvsJGQ

To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: https://arkmedia.org/

Dan on X: https://x.com/dansenor

Dan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dansenor

In the 16 months since October 7th, the leader who knows more than almost anyone about the inner workings of this war has barely been heard from – until now.

In this episode of ”Call Me Back”, we hear the behind the scenes story of the war with Hamas and Hezbollah from Yoav Gallant, who served as Israel’s Defense Minister for the first 13 months of this 16-month war.

In his first English-language interview since the war began, the former Defense Minister offers an intimate account of the war’s initial hours and days, with an emphasis on one date that could have changed it all: October 11th, 2023.

This episode is the first in a series of interviews we will be posting with General Gallant, chronicling the historic and unprecedented events of the last 16 months.

Yoav Gallant served as Israel’s Defense Minister from 2022 until 2024. He was fired by Benjamin Netanyahu twice in those two years, first in 2023, when massive protests in Israel led Netanyahu to reverse his decision, then again in November of 2024. Gallant is a member of Netanyahu’s Likud party. His military career spans five decades, beginning in 1977 as a naval commando in Shayetet 13, and serving as chief of the IDF’s Southern Command during Operation Cast Lead, an early war with Hamas that lasted from late 2008 to early 2009.

CREDITS:

ILAN BENATAR - Producer & Editor

MARTIN HUERGO - Editor

REBECCA STROM - Director of Operations

STAV SLAMA - Researcher

GABE SILVERSTEIN - Research Intern

YUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

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Call Me Back - with Dan Senor

FORMER DEFENSE MINISTER YOAV GALLANT: Part 1 - Four Days In October

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Generals of a Historic Conflict

The Decision to Utilize a Podcast Format

A Soldier's Background and Perspective

The Strategic Missed Opportunity of October 11th

Reflections on Leadership Accountability

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts