Israel’s military chief has resigned, saying he recognised his responsibility for its failure on 7 October 2023, when the Palestinian armed group Hamas carried out a deadly attack on the country that triggered the Gaza war.
In a letter to the defence minister, Lt Gen Herzi Halevi admitted the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had “failed in its mission to protect the citizens of Israel”.
“My responsibility for the terrible failure accompanies me every day, every hour, and will be so for the rest of my life,” he added.
The General said he would leave his role on 6 March at a time of “significant achievements” for the IDF, although he acknowledged that “not all” of Israel’s war goals had been achieved.
“The military will continue to fight to further dismantle Hamas and its governing capabilities, ensure the return of the hostages” and enable Israelis displaced by attacks by armed groups to return home, he added.
Shortly afterwards, the chief of the IDF’s Southern Command, Maj Gen Yaron Finkelman, also announced he was also stepping down, saying he had had failed in his “duty to protect the Western Negev and its beloved, heroic residents”.
Their resignations come three days after the start of a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal agreed with Hamas, which is proscribed as a terrorist organisation by Israel, the US and others.
Israeli military and intelligence officials missed or ignored many warnings before hundreds of Hamas gunmen breached Israel’s Gaza perimeter fence at multiple locations 15 months ago and attacked nearby Israeli communities, IDF bases and a music festival. About 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage.
The IDF responded by launching an air and ground campaign in Gaza, during which more than 47,100 Palestinians have been killed, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.
Gen Halevi said in a televised address on Tuesday that Hamas’s military wing had been “severely damaged”, with most of the group’s leadership and military commanders have been killed along with almost 20,000 “operatives”.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Gen Halevi “for his many years of service and for commanding the IDF” during the war, saying it had “led to major achievements for Israel”.
BBC
