This handout picture released by the Israeli army on Jan. 15, 2025, shows U.S. army General Michael Kurilla (C-R) and his Israeli counterpart Herzi Halevi (C-L) meeting in Israel. (Credit: AFP)
The head of Israel’s military, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, resigned Tuesday, citing his responsibility for the “failure” during Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7, 2023.
In his resignation letter, released by the military, Halevi said he was stepping down “due to my acknowledgment of responsibility for the (military’s) failure on Oct. 7.”
While noting the military’s “significant successes,” Halevi admitted that “not all” of Israel’s war objectives had been achieved.
“The objectives of the war have not all been achieved. The army will continue to fight to further dismantle Hamas and its governing capabilities, ensure the return of the hostages,” and enable Israelis displaced by militant attacks to return home, he wrote.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid commended Halevi for resigning and urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to do the same.
“Now, it is time for them to take responsibility and resign — the prime minister and his entire catastrophic government,” Lapid said.
Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman, head of Israel’s southern military command overseeing Gaza, also resigned.
The resignations come days into a cease-fire with Hamas, which paused 15 months of Israeli onslaught on Gaza.
Halevi requested to step down on March 6, saying, “Until then, I will complete the inquiries into the events of Oct. 7 and strengthen the (military’s) readiness.”
On Oct. 7, 2023, thousands of Hamas fighters crossed into southern Israel from Gaza, killing 1,210 people and taking 251 hostages, according to an AFP tally of Israeli figures.
It took the military three days to clear Israeli territory of militants entirely.
The Israeli war on Gaza has killed over 47,107 Palestinians and injured over 111,147 others.
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