Israel’s top general resigned over the October 7 attack, citing security and intelligence lapses
Israel’s top general resigned on Tuesday, taking responsibility for security lapses linked to a surprise attack by Hamas that sparked the Gaza war and ratcheting up pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has postponed any public inquiry that could potentially implicate his leadership.
As a fragile new truce in the Gaza Strip held, Israel launched a major operation in the occupied West Bank, killing at least nine people and wounding at least 40 others, Palestinian officials said.
Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi is the most senior Israeli figure to resign in the wake of the security breakdown on October 7, 2023, when thousands of Hamas-led militants launched a land, sea and air assault on southern Israel, rampaging through military bases and nearby communities for hours.
About 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed in the attack, and another 250 were kidnapped. More than 90 prisoners are still being held in Gaza, about a third of whom are believed to be dead.
Israeli security forces raided the occupied West Bank city of Jenin, killing at least eight Palestinians in what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called a ‘major and significant military operation’.
The ensuing Israeli military campaign has killed more than 47,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to local health authorities, who say women and children account for more than half of the deaths, but do not say how many dead were fighters.
In his resignation letter, Halevi said the army, under his command, “failed in its mission to defend the state of Israel.” Halevi, who began what was supposed to be a three-year term in January 2023, said his resignation would take effect on March 6.
A ‘significant’ military operation in Jenin
Israel earlier announced a “significant and wide-ranging military operation” against Palestinian militants in Jenin. The city has witnessed repeated Israeli incursions and armed clashes with militants in recent years, even before a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023 ignited the Gaza war.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health announced that 35 were wounded in the operation. In its list, it does not differentiate between militants and civilians.
The latest operation comes just days after a fragile cease-fire with Hamas in Gaza is expected to last for six weeks and allow the release of 33 hostages held by the militants in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians jailed by Israel. Three hostages and 90 prisoners were released on Sunday, when the ceasefire came into effect.
Israel conquered the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem in the Middle East War of 1967. The Palestinians seek an independent state that would encompass all three territories.
The ceasefire does not apply to the West Bank, which has seen a wave of violence since the start of the war. Israeli troops carry out almost daily attacks that often lead to armed battles.
Increase in attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank
There has also been an increase in attacks on Palestinians by Jewish extremists – including rampages in two Palestinian villages overnight on Monday – as well as Palestinian attacks on Israelis.
Hamas has condemned the Israeli operation in Jenin, calling on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank to step up their own attacks.
The smaller and more radical Islamic Jihad militant group also condemned the operation, saying it reflected “Israel’s failure to achieve its goals in Gaza.” It was also said to be a “desperate attempt” by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to save his ruling coalition.
Netanyahu faced criticism from his far-right allies over the truce, which required Israeli troops to withdraw from populated areas in Gaza and provided for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including militants convicted of involvement in deadly attacks on Israelis.
The truce has already seen Hamas return to the streets, showing it remains firmly in control of the territory despite 15 months of war that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and caused widespread devastation.
One of his former partners, Itamar Ben-Gvir, quit the government the day the truce took effect, weakening the coalition but leaving Netanyahu with a parliamentary majority.
Another far-right leader, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, has threatened to flee if Israel does not resume the war after the first phase of the truce ends in six weeks.
