Israeli Chief of Staff, Herzi Halevi, resigned from his position yesterday, acknowledging that the goals of the ongoing war in Gaza had not been achieved.
Halevi, in his statement, admitted that Israel’s military objectives had not been fully realized, taking responsibility for the significant security failure during the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.
He announced that he would step down on March 6, 2024, marking the end of his tenure.
Halevi pledged to conduct a thorough investigation into the Israeli Defense Forces’ (IDF) failures during the attack and promised to strengthen the military’s readiness for future security challenges.
However, a successor has yet to be announced.
The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has faced public pressure over its failure to prevent the October 7 attacks, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis and the kidnapping of approximately 250 people.
Despite this, Netanyahu’s administration has refrained from initiating a state investigation into the matter.
In his resignation letter addressed to Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Halevi acknowledged that on the morning of October 7, the IDF had failed to protect Israeli civilians.
Halevi faced criticism from several members of Netanyahu’s cabinet, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who accused him of a soft approach during the conflict in Gaza.
Meanwhile, the ongoing war in Gaza has claimed over 46,000 Palestinian lives, and Israeli airstrikes have left much of the besieged region in ruins.
In the first phase of a ceasefire agreement, three Israeli hostages were released on Sunday, with hopes for the release of 33 more hostages over the next six weeks.
It is estimated that approximately 94 hostages remain in Gaza.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant praised Halevi for his leadership, stating that he would continue his duties until a new chief of staff is appointed.
Prime Minister Netanyahu also accepted Halevi’s resignation.
