Israel’s top military leader, Chief of the General Staff of the Defense Forces, Herzi Halevi, announced his resignation on Tuesday, March 6, taking responsibility for the security and intelligence failures related to the Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.
This incident sparked over a year-long conflict in Gaza. Meanwhile, according to Palestinian officials, Israel launched a large-scale operation in the occupied West Bank, resulting in at least 6 deaths.
Halevi, who had been widely expected to resign, stated in a letter to the Israeli Defense Minister that he would complete the investigation into the Hamas attack of October 7 and strengthen the IDF’s readiness for security challenges.
Assuming office in January 2023, Halevi is the highest-ranking Israeli official to resign due to the security breach on October 7. His term was originally set for three years.
On that day, thousands of Hamas militants launched attacks on southern Israel by sea, land, and air, causing havoc for several hours at military bases and nearby communities.
The Hamas militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapped 250 individuals to Gaza. Approximately 90 hostages are still being held captive in Gaza, with an estimated one-third believed to have died.
In the days leading up to Halevi’s resignation, Israel reached a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, potentially ending the conflict and securing the release of remaining hostages.
Major General Yaron Finkelman, commander of the IDF’s Southern Command responsible for leading the Gaza military operation, also submitted his resignation.
The resignations of these two senior officials are expected to intensify calls for a public inquiry into the events of October 7.
Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu stated that any investigation would have to wait until the conflict was resolved.
Halevi appeared to have disagreements with the new Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on the direction of the war. While Halevi claimed that Israel had achieved most of its military objectives, Katz echoed Netanyahu’s pledge for continued fighting until Hamas is decisively defeated.
At the same time, Israel announced a “significant and extensive military operation” against Palestinian extremists in the West Bank city of Jenin.
In recent years, clashes between the Israeli military and militants have occurred in the city prior to the Gaza conflict eruption. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported at least 6 deaths and 35 injuries, without distinguishing between militants and civilians.
Israel occupied the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem during the 1967 Middle East War. Palestinians seek to establish an independent state covering all three territories. The latest ceasefire agreement reached with Hamas does not apply to the West Bank.
Hamas condemned Israel’s actions in Jenin, urging Palestinians in the occupied West Bank to intensify attacks against Israel. A smaller, more radical Islamic Jihad group also criticized the operation, claiming it showed Israel’s failure to achieve its goals in Gaza and labeling it a “desperate attempt” by Netanyahu to save his coalition government.
Furthermore, Netanyahu faced criticism from his far-right allies over the ceasefire. The agreement required the Israeli army to withdraw from densely populated areas in Gaza and release thousands of Palestinian prisoners, including radical elements convicted of deadly attacks against Israelis.
The ceasefire allowed Hamas militants to return to the streets, indicating that despite Israel’s 15-month war resulting in tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths and widespread destruction, Hamas still maintains control in Gaza.
The ceasefire, lasting six weeks, included the release of 33 hostages held by Hamas in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners detained by Israel. Following the agreement, on Sunday, January 19, three hostages and 90 prisoners were released.
(Translated and adapted from Voice of America)