Israel’s military chief resigns over 7 October 2023 failure

Israel’s military chief has resigned, saying he recognized his role in their failure on October 7, 2023, when the Palestinian militant group Hamas carried out a deadly attack on the country that started the Gaza war.

In a letter to the Minister of Defense, Lt Gen Herzi Halevi admitted that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) “failed in its duty to protect the citizens of Israel”.

“My responsibility for a terrible failure accompanies me every day, every hour, and will be so for the rest of my life,” he added.

The official said that he will step down on March 6 during the IDF’s “great achievements”, although he admitted that “not all” of Israel’s military goals have been achieved.

“The army will continue to fight to end the Hamas movement and its ruling power, to ensure the return of the hostages” and allow Israelis displaced by the armed groups to return to their homes, he added.

Soon after, the head of the IDF’s Southern Command, Maj Gen Yaron Finkelman, also announced his resignation, saying he had failed “in his mission to protect the Western Negev and its beloved, powerful people”.

Their departure comes three days after the start of a cease-fire agreement in Gaza and the release of prisoners who joined Hamas, which is banned as a terrorist group by Israel, the US and others.

Israel’s military and intelligence agencies missed or ignored numerous warnings before Hamas militants breached Israel’s fence around Gaza in several places 15 months ago and attacked nearby Israeli settlements, an IDF base and a music festival. About 1,200 people were killed and 251 were captured.

The IDF responded by launching an air and ground campaign in Gaza, where more than 47,100 Palestinians have been killed, according to Hamas’ health ministry in the region.

Gen Halevi said in a televised statement on Tuesday that the Hamas military had been “destroyed”, with many of the group’s leadership and officers killed along with about 20,000 “workers”.

He also promised that the IDF’s investigation into the events of 7 October, which he plans to complete before leaving office, will be “high-quality, transparent, and transparent”.

However, he warned that the military investigation “only focused on the IDF and does not include many factors that could prevent similar incidents in the future”.

“An investigation agency or any other foreign agency can investigate and investigate and will receive full transparency from the IDF,” he said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Gen Halevi “for his many years of service and command of the IDF” during the war, saying that “it made Israel very successful”.

To this day, Netanyahu has said that he deeply regrets what happened on October 7 and that he will answer “difficult questions” about his position, without accepting any responsibility. He also said that an independent investigation should wait until the end of the war in Gaza.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid praised Halevi’s decision and called on Netanyahu to follow suit.

“Now, it’s time for him to take responsibility and resign – the prime minister and his entire wretched government,” he said.

Gen Halevi is currently overseeing the IDF’s compliance with the three-phase cease-fire agreement in Gaza with Hamas that should see the remaining Israeli prisoners released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons.

In total, 33 hostages should be released in the first phase which lasts six weeks. Hamas handed over three women on Sunday, when the ceasefire began, and said it would release four more women on Saturday.

Israeli forces must also withdraw from populated areas of Gaza, Palestinian refugees must be allowed to return home, and hundreds of aid trucks must be allowed to enter the area every day.

Negotiations for the second phase – which should see the remaining hostages released, the complete withdrawal of the Israeli army and the “restoration of permanent stability” – are due to begin in less than two weeks.

The third and final phase should involve the reconstruction of Gaza, which could take years, and the return of the remaining bodies of the hostages.

However, there is serious concern among the Palestinians in Gaza and the families of the hostages if the deal will hold.

The new US president, Donald Trump, who took credit for ending the war, said on Monday he was not confident that all three levels would be met.

Netanyahu said Israel already has US support to return to the war if “it reaches a point where negotiations for a second phase are not useful”.