Yoav Gallant (born November 8, 1958, in Jaffa, Israel) is an Israeli politician and retired Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Major General. He began his military career in 1977 as a naval commando in the elite Shayetet 13 unit, later commanding the unit in 1994. His 35-year tenure included service in the 1982 Lebanon War, counter-terrorism operations, and various leadership roles in the Navy and Southern Command, including as deputy commander of a missile boat and commander of Southern Command. After six years of active service in the 1980s, he briefly worked as a lumberjack in Alaska before returning to the IDF. He was nominated as IDF Chief of Staff in 2013, but the appointment was blocked by the Supreme Court due to land acquisition allegations. Gallant retired as a Major General in 2012.

He entered politics in 2015, joining the Kulanu party, and was elected to the Knesset, serving as Minister of Construction and Housing. In 2018, he switched to the Likud party, serving as Minister of Aliyah and Integration (2019–2020) and Minister of Education in 2020. Gallant served as Israel's Minister of Defense from 2020 to 2022 and again from November 2022 under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu until his dismissal on November 7, 2024, which cited disagreements over Gaza strategy; Israel Katz was appointed as his replacement, though Gallant later resumed the role before his term ended. A key figure in Israel's security policy, he oversaw the IDF's budget, operations, strategy, defense policy, military and intelligence operations, and cyber defense initiatives, including coordination with Mossad and responses to Hamas and Hezbollah. His tenure was marked by Israel's response to the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks and tensions with Netanyahu over military strategy. He served as one of the three members of the war cabinet during the Israel-Hamas War starting in October 2023, alongside Netanyahu and Benny Gantz.

Gallant holds a BA in Business and Finance Management from the University of Haifa. He has professional ties to the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, serving as a project partner and consultant for foreign influence efforts. He resigned from the Knesset on January 5, 2025, ending his immediate political role. He has been speculated as a potential future prime minister due to his military and political experience. Gallant resides in the moshav of Amikam and is married to Claudine Gallant, a retired IDF lieutenant colonel. They have one son and two daughters. Raised in modest conditions near Tel Aviv, he embodies the archetype of Israel's security-focused leadership, bridging military service and right-wing politics. He has been criticized for hardline stances on security issues but praised for his operational expertise.