JERUSALEM: Israel’s military chief Herzi Halevi mentioned on Tuesday (Jan 16) he would resign on March 6, taking accountability for the massive security lapse on October 7, 2023, when Palestinian Hamas gunmen from Gaza carried out a cross-border assault on Israel.
Halevi, who had been extensively anticipated to step down within the wake of the deadliest single day in Israel’s historical past, mentioned he would full the Israel Defence Forces’ inquiries into October 7 and strengthen the IDF’s readiness for safety challenges. It was not instantly clear who would substitute Halevi, who mentioned he would switch the IDF command to a yet-to-be-named successor.
Regardless of public anger over October 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 October 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 day-after-day, hour by hour, and can achieve this for the remainder of my life,” mentioned Halevi, a army veteran of 4 many years.
