Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, Israel's military chief of staff, announced his resignation in March, taking responsibility for the October 7 attack by Hamas. Halevi's resignation follows pressure from both within the military and from far-right nationalist ministers who felt he was not pursuing a sufficiently aggressive war strategy.
Israel 's military chief of staff, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi , announced his resignation in March, citing the failure to prevent the October 7 attack.
In a letter addressed to Israel's prime minister and defense minister, released by the military, Halevi stated: 'As a result of my responsibility for the IDF's failure on October 7, and at a time when the military has recorded exceptional achievements in restoring Israel's deterrence and strength, I wish to conclude my tenure on March 6, 2025.' Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz had previously given Halevi a deadline of January 30 to finalize internal military investigations into the security failures leading to Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack. Halevi's resignation constitutes the most prominent departure of an Israeli official linked to the security establishment's shortcomings on that fateful day.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refrained from accepting responsibility for these failures, asserting that accountability will only be addressed after the war. Halevi's resignation coincides with the implementation of a ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza just days prior. According to the agreement, discussions for a permanent cessation of hostilities are scheduled to commence on February 4. 'On the morning of October 7, under my command, the IDF failed in its mission to protect the citizens of Israel,' Halevi wrote. 'The State of Israel paid a heavy and painful price in lives lost, in those taken hostage, in the wounded – both physically and mentally.'The military chief also faced pressure from Israel's far-right nationalist ministers, who perceived him as either incapable or unwilling to execute their ambitious war objectives in Gaza and the West Bank. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich contemplated resigning from the government due to his opposition to the Gaza ceasefire but ultimately decided to remain after receiving assurances from Netanyahu regarding the continuation of Israel's military operations. Major General Yaron Finkelman, the Commanding Officer of Israel's Southern Command, also submitted his resignation, stating that he had 'failed in protecting the western Negev and its beloved, heroic residents' on October 7.
Israel Hamas Military Resignation Attack October 7 Herzi Halevi Gaza Netanyahu
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