Israel’s Military Chief, Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi, has resigned over the IDF’s failure during Hamas’s October 7 attack, taking responsibility for the defensive shortcomings that led to a devastating assault on southern Israel.
At a Glance
- Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi resigned as IDF Chief of Staff, citing responsibility for October 7 failures
- Halevi’s resignation comes 10 months earlier than the standard term
- Major General Yaron Finkelman, Head of Israel’s Southern Military Command, also resigned
- Halevi plans to complete inquiries into October 7 events before leaving on March 6
- Opposition leader Yair Lapid praised Halevi’s resignation and called for Prime Minister Netanyahu to follow suit
Halevi Takes Responsibility for October 7 Failure
In a surprising move, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, Head of Israel’s military, has announced his resignation due to the IDF’s failure during Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023. Halevi, who has served as IDF Chief of Staff for two years and two months, will be stepping down on March 6, nearly a year ahead of schedule.
The resignation comes in the wake of intense scrutiny over the military’s inability to prevent and quickly respond to the Hamas assault, which resulted in 1,210 Israeli deaths and 251 hostages taken. Despite Israel’s advanced surveillance and defense systems, militants managed to breach a major military base, infiltrate residential areas, and attack a music festival.
In his resignation statement, Halevi took full responsibility for the defensive failures that allowed Hamas to launch such a significant attack on southern Israel. However, he also pointed out several achievements during his tenure, including successes against Hezbollah, the Assad regime, and Iran, as well as a hostage exchange deal with Hamas.
“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,” Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi said.
Halevi emphasized that the IDF managed to maintain low levels of terror in the West Bank during his leadership, allowing the military to focus on major fronts with Hamas and Hezbollah. Despite these successes, he acknowledged that not all war goals have been met, including the complete dismantling of Hamas’s political control in Gaza and the return of 94 remaining hostages.
Before his departure, Halevi plans to complete several crucial tasks. He intends to issue a comprehensive report on the October 7 failures and manage the current ceasefire. Additionally, Halevi aims to ensure a smooth transfer of IDF management while the military is in a strong and stable position.
As Halevi prepares to step down, questions remain about whether he will call for a state inquiry into the October 7 events, following the example of his former intelligence chief who did so upon resignation. The IDF’s internal opinions are divided, with some believing Halevi stayed too long after the failure, while others supported him for facilitating a hostage deal.
