Israel’s top general resigns over ‘terrible’ failures of October 7 attack | News about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Israel’s top general has resigned, citing “appalling” security and intelligence “failures” related to the deadly October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas. attack in the south of Israel.

Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi is the most senior Israeli official to resign amid the security breakdown, when thousands of Hamas-led fighters stormed from Gaza and attacked military bases, kibbutzim and a music festival in southern Israel.

The attack killed at least 1,139 people, most of them civilians, according to an Al Jazeera report based on Israeli statistics, and captured another 250 people. More than 90 hostages are still being held by Palestinian groups in Gaza, of whom Israel believes about a third are dead.

Halevi oversaw Israel’s response to the attack, a devastating attack on the besieged Palestinian territory that killed more than 47,000 people, according to Palestinian health authorities.

A fierce military campaign has destroyed much of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure, while Israel’s harsh restrictions on humanitarian supplies to the territory have led to warnings of a humanitarian disaster.

In his resignation letter, Halevi said the army under his command “failed in its mission to defend the state of Israel” when Hamas attacked, but made “significant achievements” in the war that followed.

“My responsibility for a terrible failure follows me every day, hour by hour, and will follow me for the rest of my life,” Halevi wrote in his resignation letter to Defense Minister Israel Katz.

He said he was leaving at a time of “significant successes” for the military, although he also said that “not all” of Israel’s war goals had been met.

“Not all goals of the war were achieved. The military will continue to fight to further dismantle Hamas and its governance capabilities, ensure the return of hostages,” and allow Israelis displaced by militant attacks to return home, he said.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid praised Halevi for resigning and called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to follow suit.

“Now is the time for them to take responsibility and resign – the prime minister and his entire disastrous government,” Lapid said.

Shortly after Halevi announced his resignation, Major General Yaron Finkelman – head of Israel’s Southern Command, which oversees operations in Gaza – also resigned.

The generals’ resignations could contribute to calls for a public inquiry into the Oct. 7 failure, something Netanyahu — whose leadership could be implicated — has said he would wait until the war is over.

Criticism of the extreme right

Katz thanked Halevi for his contributions to the military and expressed gratitude that he will continue to fulfill his duties until a successor is named while his replacement is properly sought. Netanyahu also accepted Halevi’s resignation.

Halevi has been frequently criticized by far-right figures in Netanyahu’s government, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

Halevi’s resignation comes three days after the long-awaited one ceasefire agreement went into effect, leading to a pause in the 15-month war in Gaza and the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

The first phase of the multi-phase deal is expected to last six weeks and see the release of 33 hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians jailed by Israel. Three hostages and 90 prisoners were released on Sunday.

On Tuesday, Smotrich praised Halevi for the army’s success in dismantling Hamas’ military capabilities during the war, but also placed the blame on his shoulders for the Oct. 7 attack.

“My criticism of his failure in the campaign to remove Hamas’ civilian and governmental capabilities, as well as his responsibility for the October 7 failure, does not diminish the great gratitude we owe him for all his work and contributions over the years and his achievements,” Smotrich said. who opposed the agreement on the ceasefire and the release of the hostages.

“The coming period will be marked by the replacement of the senior military command in preparation for the renewal of the war, this time in the West Bank until total victory.”