Israeli Military Leader Steps Down Amid October 7 Hamas Attack Fallout
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Synopsis
In a significant move, Israeli military chief Herzi Halevi has resigned, citing the IDF's inability to prevent the October 7 Hamas attacks that started the Gaza war. This resignation has sparked further calls for accountability among Israel's leadership.
Key Takeaways
- Herzi Halevi resigns as military chief.
- His resignation is linked to IDF's security failures regarding Hamas attacks.
- The October 7 assault resulted in over 1,200 deaths.
- Halevi’s resignation takes effect on March 6.
- Calls for Netanyahu to resign follow Halevi's decision.
Jerusalem, Jan 21 (NationPress) The chief of the Israeli military, Herzi Halevi, announced his resignation on Tuesday, citing the failure of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to avert the attacks by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which ignited the Gaza war.
Halevi, aged 57, is the highest-ranking official to resign due to the security oversight, which allowed thousands of militants from Hamas and civilians from Gaza to infiltrate the border in a synchronized assault using land, air, and sea, overwhelming military bases and communities in southern Israel.
The assault marked Israel's deadliest day, resulting in approximately 1,200 fatalities and 251 individuals taken hostage. As of Tuesday, more than 90 hostages remain in Gaza, with around a third presumed deceased.
In his resignation letter, Halevi stated, “Under my command, the IDF failed in its mission to protect the citizens of Israel.”
He confirmed that his resignation would take effect on March 6, asserting that he had made the decision “a long time ago.”
“Now, with the IDF maintaining superiority on all fronts and as negotiations for the return of hostages are ongoing, the time (for my resignation) has come,” he expressed.
Following Halevi's announcement, Yaron Finkelman, the head of the Southern Command, also declared his intention to leave the IDF, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
Israel’s security forces have faced significant backlash for their inability to foresee the unprecedented attack and for the delays in mobilizing reinforcements to southern communities to defend against Hamas.
Following Halevi's resignation, Israel's security forces came under intense scrutiny for their failure to predict the attack and for slow responses in deploying reinforcements to southern areas.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reached out to Halevi after the news broke, expressing gratitude for his dedicated service to the nation.
In the wake of the resignation, opposition leaders within the Knesset urged Netanyahu to resign as well, with Opposition Leader Yair Lapid tweeting, “I salute…Herzi Halevi. Now let the prime minister and his entire disastrous government take responsibility and resign.”
