JERUSALEM: Israel’s military chief Herzi Halevi stated on Tuesday (Jan 21) he would resign on Mar 6, taking accountability for the massive security lapse on Oct 7, 2023, when Palestinian Hamas gunmen from Gaza carried out a cross-border assault on Israel.
Halevi, who had been broadly anticipated to step down within the wake of the deadliest single day in Israel’s historical past, stated he would full the Israel Defence Forces’ inquiries into Oct 7 and strengthen the IDF’s readiness for safety challenges. It was not instantly clear who would change Halevi, who stated he would switch the IDF command to a yet-to-be-named successor.
Regardless of public anger over Oct 7, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s authorities has resisted calls to open a state inquiry into its personal responsibility for the security breach that resulted in 1,200 Israelis killed and about 250 hostages taken.
“On the morning of Oct 7, the IDF failed in its mission to guard the residents of Israel,” Halevi wrote in his resignation letter to Defence Minister Israel Katz.
Israel, he added, paid a heavy worth when it comes to human lives and people kidnapped and wounded in “physique and soul”.
“My accountability for the horrible failure accompanies me each day, hour by hour, and can accomplish that for the remainder of my life,” stated Halevi, a army veteran of 4 many years.
