Israel's military chief resigns over 7 October 2023 failures

Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, the Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), has announced his resignation, stating he accepts responsibility for the deadly Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which triggered the Gaza war. In a letter to the Minister of Defense, Halevi acknowledged the IDF’s failure to fulfill its “mission to protect the citizens of Israel.” He emphasized that the sense of responsibility for this “terrible failure” will accompany him for the rest of his life.

General Halevi stated that he will step down on March 6th, and while he conceded that Israel’s war aims were “not all” achieved, he believes the IDF has made “significant accomplishments” during this time. He also indicated that the military would continue to fight to further dismantle Hamas and its governing capabilities, secure the return of hostages, and enable Israelis displaced by the armed group’s attack to return to their homes.

Shortly after, Major General Yaron Finkelman, head of the IDF’s Southern Command, also announced his resignation, saying he had failed in his duty to “protect the western Negev and its beloved, heroic residents.” Their resignations come three days into the start of a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal with Hamas. Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization by Israel, the US, and other nations.

Fifteen months ago, hundreds of Hamas fighters breached Israel’s border fence with Gaza, attacking nearby Israeli communities, IDF bases, and a music festival. Numerous warnings were missed or ignored by Israeli military and intelligence officials. The attack resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the abduction of 251 as hostages. The IDF subsequently launched airstrikes and ground operations in Gaza, which, according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry in Gaza, have led to the deaths of over 47,100 Palestinians.

In a televised address on Tuesday, General Halevi stated that Hamas’s military wing has been “badly hit” and that most of the group’s leadership and military commanders, as well as nearly 20,000 “operatives,” have been killed. He also pledged that the IDF’s investigation into the events of October 7th will be “high-quality, thorough, and completely transparent,” which he plans to complete before leaving office. However, he cautioned that the military inquiry “focuses solely on the IDF and does not include the broader factors that might prevent similar events in the future.”

General Halevi also stated that “a commission of inquiry or any other external body can conduct an investigation and review, and will receive full transparency from the IDF.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked General Halevi for “his many years of service and for commanding the IDF during the war,” calling it a “significant achievement for Israel.” So far, Netanyahu has only expressed deep regret for what happened on October 7th, stating that he will have to answer “some difficult questions” about his role but has not accepted any responsibility. He has also stated that an independent commission of inquiry should wait until the end of the Gaza war.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid praised Halevi's decision and called for Netanyahu to follow suit. “Now is the time for them to take responsibility and resign—the Prime Minister and his entire disastrous government,” he said. General Halevi is currently overseeing the IDF’s adherence to the three-stage Gaza ceasefire agreement with Hamas, which should see the release of the remaining Israeli hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

During the six-week first phase, a total of 33 hostages are to be released. Hamas handed over three women on Sunday when the ceasefire took effect and said it would release another four women on Saturday. Israeli troops are also supposed to withdraw from populated areas of Gaza, displaced Palestinians are to be allowed to begin returning home, and hundreds of aid trucks a day are to be allowed into the area. Negotiations for the second phase—the release of the remaining hostages, a full Israeli troop withdrawal, and a “restoration of sustainable calm”—are due to begin in a little over two weeks.

The third and final phase is supposed to include the reconstruction of Gaza, which could take years, and the return of any remaining hostage remains. However, Palestinians in Gaza and the families of the hostages are highly anxious about whether the agreement will hold. US President Donald Trump, who has claimed credit for brokering the ceasefire, said on Monday he was not sure all three phases could be implemented. Netanyahu has said Israel has US backing to return to fighting if it “concludes that the second phase of negotiations is ineffective.”