Israel's military chief resigned, acknowledging his responsibility for the failure on October 7, 2023, when Hamas carried out a deadly attack triggering the Gaza war. Lt Gen Herzi Halevi admitted the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) "failed in its mission to protect the citizens of Israel" in a letter to the defense minister. He expressed the burden of this failure impacting him daily and confirmed his departure on March 6 amidst the IDF's "significant achievements."
General Halevi specified ongoing goals for the IDF to combat Hamas. Soon after, Maj Gen Yaron Finkelman of the IDF's Southern Command also stepped down, citing a failure in his duty to protect the Western Negev. These resignations followed a Gaza ceasefire and a hostage release agreement with Hamas, recognized as a terrorist organization by various countries, including the US and Israel.
Halevi addressed the severe impact of the breach by Hamas gunmen and the subsequent IDF response resulting in casualties. He highlighted the damage inflicted on Hamas's military wing and vowed a thorough and transparent IDF inquiry under his supervision. However, he emphasized that this investigation would solely focus on the IDF's role, suggesting external bodies could further scrutinize broader issues to prevent similar events.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appreciated Halevi's leadership during the war, acknowledging achievements for Israel. Meanwhile, Leader Yair Lapid supported Halevi's decision and urged Netanyahu to also take responsibility and resign along with his government.
Halevi is overseeing IDF compliance with a Gaza ceasefire deal involving phased hostage releases and territorial withdrawals, amidst concerns about the agreement's sustainability. Negotiations for subsequent stages of the ceasefire deal are slated to proceed, focusing on achieving a lasting calm, reconstruction of Gaza, and the repatriation of remaining hostages. There is apprehension about the deal's longevity, with Netanyahu signaling a willingness to resume military action if necessary.