Agence France-PresseIsrael's military commander has resigned, saying he acknowledges responsibility for its failure on October 7, 2023, when the Palestinian militant group Hamas carried out a deadly attack on the country that sparked the Gaza War.
In a letter to the Defense Minister, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevy admitted that the IDF “failed in its mission to protect the citizens of Israel.”
He added: “My responsibility for the miserable failure accompanies me every day, every hour, and will remain so for the rest of my life.”
The general said that he would leave his post on March 6 at a time of “important achievements” for the Israeli army, although he admitted that “not all” of the Israeli war goals had been achieved.
He added, “The army will continue to fight to further dismantle Hamas and its governance capabilities, ensure the return of the hostages” and enable Israelis displaced by attacks by armed groups to return to their homes.
Shortly thereafter, the head of the IDF's Southern Command, Major General Yaron Finkelman, also announced that he would also step down, saying he had failed in his “duty to protect the Western Negev and its heroic, beloved residents.”
Their resignations come three days after the start of a ceasefire in Gaza and a hostage release agreement agreed with Hamas, banned as a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States and others.
Israeli military and intelligence officials missed or ignored numerous warnings before hundreds of Hamas militants breached the fence surrounding Gaza in multiple locations 15 months ago and attacked nearby Israeli communities, IDF bases and a music festival. About 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage.
The Israeli military responded by launching an air and ground campaign in Gaza, during which more than 47,100 Palestinians were killed, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry in the Strip.
General Halevy said in a televised speech on Tuesday that Hamas' military wing had been “severely damaged,” with most of the group's leadership and military commanders killed as well as nearly 20,000 “activists.”
He also promised that the IDF's investigation into the events of October 7, which he intends to complete before leaving office, will be “high quality, comprehensive, and completely transparent.”
But he warned that the military investigation “focuses only on the Israeli army and does not include broader factors that could prevent similar events from occurring in the future.”
He added: “An investigation committee or any other external body can investigate and examine and will receive full transparency from the Israeli army.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked General Halevy “for his long years of service and leadership of the Israeli army” during the war, saying that this “led to great achievements for Israel.”
So far, Netanyahu has only said that he is deeply sorry for what happened on October 7, and that he will have to answer “some difficult questions” about his role, without acknowledging any responsibility. He also said that an independent investigation committee should wait until the end of the war in Gaza.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid praised Halevy's decision and called on Netanyahu to follow suit.
“Now it is time for them to take responsibility and resign – the prime minister and his entire disastrous government,” he said.
ReutersGeneral Halevy is currently overseeing the IDF's adherence to a three-phase Gaza ceasefire agreement with Hamas that would result in the release of the remaining Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons.
In total, 33 hostages should be released during the first phase, which will last six weeks. Hamas handed over three women on Sunday when the ceasefire took effect and said it would release four more women on Saturday.
Israeli forces must also withdraw from densely populated areas in Gaza, displaced Palestinians must be allowed to begin returning to their homes, and hundreds of aid trucks must be allowed to enter the area every day.
Negotiations on the second phase – which is supposed to see the release of the remaining hostages, the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces and the “restoration of sustainable calm” – are supposed to begin in just over two weeks.
The third and final phase must include the reconstruction of Gaza, which could take years, and the return of any remaining hostage bodies.
However, there is great concern among Palestinians in Gaza and the families of the hostages about whether the deal will hold.
New US President Donald Trump, who was credited with brokering the ceasefire, said so on Monday He was not confident about implementing the three stages.
Netanyahu said that Israel already has the support of the United States to return to fighting if it “reaches the conclusion that the second-stage negotiations are ineffective.”
