Israel’s army chief resigns over failures of Hamas attack on October 7
Herzi Halevi admits military’s failures and his command responsibility for cross-border assault from Gaza
21 January 2025 - 20:53
bySteven Scheer
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A man sits next to posters with images of hostages kidnapped in the deadly October 7 attack on Israel by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, April 16, 2024. Picture: REUTERS/Hannah McKay
Jerusalem — Israel’s army chief Herzi Halevi said on Tuesday he would resign on March 6, taking responsibility for the massive security lapse on October 7 2023, when Palestinian Hamas gunmen from Gaza carried out a cross-border attack on Israel.
Halevi, who had been widely expected to step down in the wake of the deadliest single day in Israel’s history, said he would complete the Israel Defence Forces’ inquiries into October 7 and strengthen the IDF’s readiness for security challenges.
It was not immediately clear who would replace Halevi, who said he would transfer the IDF command to a yet-to-be-named successor.
Despite public anger over October 7, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has resisted calls to open a state inquiry into its own responsibility for the security breach that resulted in 1,200 Israelis killed and about 250 hostages taken.
“On the morning of October 7, the IDF failed in its mission to protect the citizens of Israel,” Halevi wrote in his resignation letter to defence minister Israel Katz.
Israel, he added, paid a heavy price in terms of human lives and those kidnapped and wounded in “body and soul”.
Military chief Herzi Halevi in Tel Aviv, Israel, January 16 2023. Picture: REUTERS/AMIR COHEN
“My responsibility for the terrible failure accompanies me every day, hour by hour, and will do so for the rest of my life,” said Halevi, a military veteran of four decades.
Halevi was in lockstep with former defence minister Yoav Gallant, who was fired by Netanyahu in November, and at loggerheads with some ministers over military conscription exemptions given to ultra-Orthodox Jewish seminary students.
A number of senior military officers have already resigned over the failures of October 7, and the head of the military’s Southern Command, Maj-Gen Yaron Finkelman, also announced he would be resigning.
After 15 months of war in Gaza, the first phase of a ceasefire deal with Hamas went into effect on Sunday, with three hostages being released among a planned 33 in the next six weeks. Some 94 hostages are believed to remain in Gaza, though some may have since died in captivity.
Katz thanked Halevi for his contributions to the military and said he would continue to fulfil his duties until a successor is named, while there would be an orderly search for his replacement. Netanyahu also accepted Halevi’s resignation.
Halevi was often criticised by hardliners in Netanyahu’s government, including finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, who said his conduct of the war in Gaza was too soft.
More than 46,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war since October 2023 and the heavily built-up territory has been widely demolished by Israeli bombardments and air strikes.
Smotrich on Tuesday praised Halevi for the military’s success in shattering Hamas’ military capabilities during the war but also put blame on his shoulders for the October 7 debacle.
“My criticism of his failure in the campaign to eliminate Hamas’s civilian and governmental capabilities, as well as his responsibility for the October 7 failure, does not diminish the great gratitude we owe him for all his work and contributions over the years and his achievements,” said Smotrich, who opposed the ceasefire and hostage release deal.
“The coming period will be marked by the replacement of the senior military command as part of preparations for the renewal of the war, this time in the West Bank until complete victory.”
Halevi said that despite the failings of October 7, Israel had notched many military achievements since then which had “changed the Middle East”.
Since October 7, Israel’s military regained its prowess as the most formidable in the region, and surveys show strong public support for the IDF.
He pointed to Israel’s military degradation of Hamas that had created conditions for returning hostages, its “unprecedented” damage inflicted on Iranian-backed Hezbollah forces in Lebanon, a significantly weakened Iran, and its destruction of significant parts of Syria’s military.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Israel’s army chief resigns over failures of Hamas attack on October 7
Herzi Halevi admits military’s failures and his command responsibility for cross-border assault from Gaza
Jerusalem — Israel’s army chief Herzi Halevi said on Tuesday he would resign on March 6, taking responsibility for the massive security lapse on October 7 2023, when Palestinian Hamas gunmen from Gaza carried out a cross-border attack on Israel.
Halevi, who had been widely expected to step down in the wake of the deadliest single day in Israel’s history, said he would complete the Israel Defence Forces’ inquiries into October 7 and strengthen the IDF’s readiness for security challenges.
It was not immediately clear who would replace Halevi, who said he would transfer the IDF command to a yet-to-be-named successor.
Despite public anger over October 7, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has resisted calls to open a state inquiry into its own responsibility for the security breach that resulted in 1,200 Israelis killed and about 250 hostages taken.
“On the morning of October 7, the IDF failed in its mission to protect the citizens of Israel,” Halevi wrote in his resignation letter to defence minister Israel Katz.
Israel, he added, paid a heavy price in terms of human lives and those kidnapped and wounded in “body and soul”.
“My responsibility for the terrible failure accompanies me every day, hour by hour, and will do so for the rest of my life,” said Halevi, a military veteran of four decades.
Halevi was in lockstep with former defence minister Yoav Gallant, who was fired by Netanyahu in November, and at loggerheads with some ministers over military conscription exemptions given to ultra-Orthodox Jewish seminary students.
A number of senior military officers have already resigned over the failures of October 7, and the head of the military’s Southern Command, Maj-Gen Yaron Finkelman, also announced he would be resigning.
After 15 months of war in Gaza, the first phase of a ceasefire deal with Hamas went into effect on Sunday, with three hostages being released among a planned 33 in the next six weeks. Some 94 hostages are believed to remain in Gaza, though some may have since died in captivity.
Katz thanked Halevi for his contributions to the military and said he would continue to fulfil his duties until a successor is named, while there would be an orderly search for his replacement. Netanyahu also accepted Halevi’s resignation.
Halevi was often criticised by hardliners in Netanyahu’s government, including finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, who said his conduct of the war in Gaza was too soft.
More than 46,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war since October 2023 and the heavily built-up territory has been widely demolished by Israeli bombardments and air strikes.
Smotrich on Tuesday praised Halevi for the military’s success in shattering Hamas’ military capabilities during the war but also put blame on his shoulders for the October 7 debacle.
“My criticism of his failure in the campaign to eliminate Hamas’s civilian and governmental capabilities, as well as his responsibility for the October 7 failure, does not diminish the great gratitude we owe him for all his work and contributions over the years and his achievements,” said Smotrich, who opposed the ceasefire and hostage release deal.
“The coming period will be marked by the replacement of the senior military command as part of preparations for the renewal of the war, this time in the West Bank until complete victory.”
Israel’s army launches raids into Jenin
Halevi said that despite the failings of October 7, Israel had notched many military achievements since then which had “changed the Middle East”.
Since October 7, Israel’s military regained its prowess as the most formidable in the region, and surveys show strong public support for the IDF.
He pointed to Israel’s military degradation of Hamas that had created conditions for returning hostages, its “unprecedented” damage inflicted on Iranian-backed Hezbollah forces in Lebanon, a significantly weakened Iran, and its destruction of significant parts of Syria’s military.
Reuters
Joy at ceasefire dims as Gazans dig for the dead amid ruins
Joy as first three hostages reach Israeli territory
Gaza guns fall silent as ceasefire starts
Israel’s cabinet approves Gaza ceasefire with Hamas
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