Israel: Chief of Staff Resigns Due to “Failure of October 7”

General Herzi Halevi, the Chief of Staff of the Israeli army, announced his resignation on Tuesday, citing his “responsibility” for the failure that occurred during the unprecedented attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023. In a letter sent to his superiors and published in the media, Halevi stated that he wishes to end his duties on March 6, 2025.

In his letter, the 57-year-old general, who has held this position since December 2022, explained that his mission to protect the State of Israel has been the most important of his life. However, he acknowledged: “On the morning of October 7, the army under my command failed in its mission to protect Israeli citizens.” He added: “My responsibility for this terrible failure accompanies me daily and will accompany me for the rest of my life.”

The Israeli military also announced the resignation of General Yaron Finkelman, commander of the Southern Military Command, who was responsible for operations related to the Gaza Strip. In his letter to Halevi, Finkelman admitted that he “failed to protect the beloved and heroic residents” of areas near Gaza.

This resignation comes amid a tense political climate for the Israeli government led by Benjamin Netanyahu. In response to this situation, opposition leader Yair Lapid called for the resignation of the government, stating that it is time for officials to take responsibility.

Defense Minister Israel Katz indicated that he would meet with potential candidates to succeed Halevi in the coming days. Among the names mentioned are General Eyal Zamir and General Amir Baram.

This decision marks a significant step in the Israeli military following the failure of October 7, which led to a series of resignations within high military command.

About محمد الفاسي