The Israeli government has approved the appointment of a new foreign minister in a pre-arranged reshuffle, replacing Eli Cohen with Israel Katz as part of a ministerial rotation subject to parliamentary approval. Cohen will take on the role of Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, while Katz will become the Minister of Foreign Affairs, with both continuing to serve as members of the security cabinet, pending parliamentary approval. The reshuffle comes in the wake of a deadly war between Israel and Hamas that broke out in October, with Cohen acknowledging the government's failure to anticipate the Hamas attack and advocating for the establishment of an independent commission of inquiry at the end of the conflict.

The militants' attack resulted in the deaths of about 1,140 people, mostly civilians, prompting a relentless military campaign by Israel that has claimed the lives of more than 21,800 people, primarily women and children, according to the health ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza. Cohen, who was appointed foreign minister last year in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing coalition government, played a key role in the normalization of relations between Israel and some Arab countries through the Abraham Accords, which saw the establishment of diplomatic ties with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco. This latest reshuffle reflects a significant move within the Israeli government and is set to bring about new leadership in the foreign affairs and energy sectors.