Israel military chief resigns over October 7 'failure'

Israel’s top military leader Lt Gen Herzi Halevi resigned on Tuesday, citing the failures in security and intelligence that led to Hamas' surprise attack on October 7, 2023.
The attack resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians, and the abduction of 250 others. Halevi’s resignation, which will be effective from March 6, 2025, marks the highest-level fallout over the events that have since triggered a war in Gaza.
In his resignation letter, Halevi acknowledged the military’s failure to protect Israel during the unprecedented assault and expressed accountability for the lapses under his command. He had assumed his role as chief of staff in January 2023 for a three-year term.
As the resignation news broke, Israel launched a significant military operation in Jenin, a flashpoint in the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian health ministry reported at least six people killed and 35 injured during the raid. The operation was launched against the backdrop of a fragile ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza, which began days earlier.

The ceasefire, aimed at facilitating hostage and prisoner exchanges, does not extend to the West Bank. The area has seen a surge in violence, including near-daily Israeli raids and escalating confrontations between Jewish settlers and Palestinians.
Hamas condemned the Jenin operation, urging Palestinians in the West Bank to intensify their resistance.
Political pressure on Netanyahu
Netanyahu also has faced internal criticism, particularly from far-right allies, over the ceasefire agreement with Hamas. The deal includes the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and has drawn ire from figures like finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, who threatened to exit the coalition if the war in Gaza does not resume after the six-week ceasefire phase.
While the ceasefire has temporarily halted hostilities in Gaza, tensions remain high as Hamas continues to assert its control over the territory.
The conflict has resulted in catastrophic loss of life, with over 47,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza, according to local health officials. Women and children reportedly constitute more than half of the fatalities, though the number of militant casualties remains undisclosed.