Israel's top general resigned on Tuesday, taking responsibility for security failures related to Hamas' surprise attack on Israel that sparked the Gaza war, adding to pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
While a fragile ceasefire is being observed in the Gaza Strip, Israel launched a major operation in the occupied West Bank, which killed at least 9 people and wounded 40 others, according to Palestinian officials.
Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi is the highest-ranking Israeli official to resign over security and intelligence failures on October 7, 2023, when thousands of Hamas militants carried out a land, sea and air attack on southern Israel, entering military bases and nearby settlements.
During this attack, 1,200 people were killed, mostly civilians, while the militants kidnapped another 250. Over 90 hostages are still being held in Gaza, although a third of them are believed to be dead.
General Halevi's resignation came just days after a ceasefire with Hamas took effect, which could lead to an end to the 15-month war and the return of remaining hostages. Major General Yaron Finkelman, head of Israel's Southern Command, which oversees operations in Gaza, also resigned.
It is believed that their resignations will add to calls for a public investigation into the failures of October 7, which Prime Minister Netanyahu says should wait until the war is over.
General Halevi appears to have fallen out with Israel’s new Defense Minister, Israel Katz, over the direction of the war. He says Israel has achieved most of its goals, while Minister Katz is echoing Prime Minister Netanyahu’s pledge to continue the war until a “complete victory” over Hamas. Minister Katz replaced Minister Yoav Gallant, whom Netanyahu unexpectedly dismissed in November after disagreements over the war.
In his resignation letter, Halevi said the army, under his command, “failed in its mission to defend the State of Israel” and stressed that military investigations into these failures are “currently in the final stages.” He said his resignation will take effect on March 6. VOA (A2 Televizion)
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