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By Shannon McDonagh
News Reporter
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Israel's top general, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, announced his resignation on Tuesday, citing personal responsibility for the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that left hundreds dead and ignited more than a year of fighting in Gaza.
Why It Matters
Halevi's resignation came just days into a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which aims to halt the 15 months of intense fighting in Gaza. During this time over 46,600 Palestinian and 1,700 Israeli people have been killed. In his resignation letter, Halevi said that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had "failed in its mission to defend the State of Israel."
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Adding to the upheaval, tensions have become palpable between military and political leadership. Halevi publicly suggested that Israel had met its key objectives in the war, contrasting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, who pledged to continue military operations until a "total victory" over Hamas is reached.
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What To Know
Halevi's resignation will take effect on March 6, 2025, marking an early end to what was intended to be a three-year tenure. Major General Yaron Finkelman, head of Israel's Southern Command, also tendered his resignation over the same security lapses.
In the aftermath of the October 7 attack, a number of hostages remained in Gaza, with many presumed dead. The ceasefire with Hamas, brokered under international pressure, is set to last six weeks, during which time 33 hostages are expected to be exchanged for hundreds of Palestinian people held by Israel.
Prime Minister Netanyahu, who has faced domestic criticism over his handling of the war and ceasefire negotiations, has deferred the possibility of an inquiry into the events of October 7 until the conflict is fully resolved.
Meanwhile, violence has persisted in the West Bank, where the ceasefire does not apply. On the same day Halevi resigned, Israeli forces launched a "broad military operation" in the city of Jenin. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported six fatalities and 35 injuries, attributing the casualties to Israeli fire. The West Bank has seen escalating violence since the war began, including attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinian villages.
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What People Are Saying
"On the morning of 7 October, the IDF under my command failed in its mission to protect the citizens of Israel," Halevi said in his letter.
"The state of Israel paid a heavy and painful price – in human lives, in hostages, and injuries to bodies and souls. The acts of daring heroism by––security forces, IDF soldiers and commanders, and brave––were not enough to prevent the heavy disaster. My responsibility for this terrible failure accompanies me day by day, hour by hour, and will continue for the rest of my life."
What Happens Next
Whether Israel will undertake a public inquiry into the October 7 failures remains uncertain. The six-week ceasefire with Hamas remains tenuous, with further hostages expected to be released in exchange for Palestinian people. Should the ceasefire hold, international organizations, including the United Nations, are preparing to scale up humanitarian aid in Gaza, where infrastructure has been decimated and up to 90 percent of the population displaced.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
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