Israel’s high common has resigned, citing “horrible” safety and intelligence “failures” associated to the lethal October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel.
Lieutenant Basic Herzi Halevi is probably the most senior Israeli official to resign over the safety breakdown, when hundreds of Hamas-led fighters stormed from Gaza and attacked navy bases, kibbutzim and a music pageant southern Israel.
The assault killed at the least 1,139 folks, largely civilians, in keeping with an Al Jazeera tally primarily based on Israeli statistics, and one other 250 folks have been seized as captives. Greater than 90 hostages are nonetheless being held by Palestinian teams in Gaza, round a 3rd of whom Israel believes to be lifeless.
Halevi oversaw Israel’s response to the assault, a devastating assault on the besieged Palestinian territory that has killed greater than 47,000 folks, in keeping with Palestinian well being authorities.
The ferocious navy marketing campaign has destroyed a lot of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure, whereas Israel’s extreme restrictions on humanitarian provides to the territory have led to warnings of a humanitarian catastrophe.
In his letter of resignation, Halevi stated that the navy had, beneath his command “failed in its mission to defend the State of Israel” when Hamas attacked, however had made “important achievements” within the ensuing warfare.
“My accountability for the horrible failure accompanies me every single day, hour by hour, and can accomplish that for the remainder of my life,” Halevi wrote in his resignation letter to Defence Minister Israel Katz.
He stated he was leaving at a time of “important successes” for the navy, although he additionally stated that “not all” of Israel’s warfare targets had been met.
“The targets of the warfare haven’t all been achieved. The military will proceed to combat to additional dismantle Hamas and its governing capabilities, make sure the return of the hostages”, and allow Israelis displaced by militant assaults to return house, he stated.
Israeli opposition chief Yair Lapid praised Halevi for stepping down and referred to as on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to comply with go well with.
“Now, it’s time for them to take accountability and resign – the prime minister and his whole catastrophic authorities,” Lapid stated.
Shortly after Halevi introduced his resignation, Main Basic Yaron Finkelman – head of Israel’s Southern Command, which oversees operations in Gaza – additionally tendered his resignation.
The generals’ resignations may add to requires a public inquiry into the October 7 failures, one thing Netanyahu – whose management may very well be implicated – has stated will wait till the warfare is over.
Far-right criticism
Katz thanked Halevi for his contributions to the navy and expressed gratitude that he would proceed to fulfil his duties till a successor is called, whereas there can be an orderly seek for his alternative. Netanyahu additionally accepted Halevi’s resignation.
Halevi was typically criticised by far-right figures in Netanyahu’s authorities together with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
Halevi’s resignation comes three days after a long-awaited ceasefire agreement took impact, resulting in a pause within the 15-month warfare in Gaza and the alternate of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
The primary section of the multi-stage settlement is predicted to final for six weeks and can see 33 hostages launched in return for a whole lot of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Three hostages and 90 prisoners have been launched on Sunday.
Smotrich on Tuesday praised Halevi for the navy’s success in shattering Hamas’s navy capabilities through the warfare, but in addition put blame on his shoulders for the October 7 assault.
“My criticism of his failure within the marketing campaign to get rid of Hamas’s civilian and governmental capabilities, in addition to his accountability for the October seventh failure, doesn’t diminish the good gratitude we owe him for all his work and contributions through the years and his achievements,” stated Smotrich, who opposed the ceasefire and hostage launch deal.
“The approaching interval will likely be marked by the alternative of the senior navy command as a part of preparations for the renewal of the warfare, this time within the West Financial institution till full victory.”