Opposition leaders from across Israel’s political spectrum blasted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for firing his defence minister, saying it threatened national security at a time of conflict, AFP reports.

At a joint news conference in Jerusalem, they accused Netanyahu of putting his own political interests before the country’s following his decision the day before to dismiss Yoav Gallant.

“He had the choice between disgrace and war, and he chose disgrace,” said former prime minister Yair Lapid, voicing outrage at the move as Israel faces military pressures on multiple fronts.

“Our soldiers cannot trust him. The citizens of Israel cannot trust him. Yesterday the whole State of Israel saw” that, he said of Netanyahu.

Leading opposition figure Benny Gantz, who quit Netanyahu’s government in June over its lack of a post-war plan for Gaza, called the timing of the move “absolute security negligence”.