Amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the Israeli military announced on Monday (April 22nd) that the head of the Israeli Military Intelligence Department has resigned.
According to the military, Major General Aharon Haliva resigned for failing to prevent the Hamas attack on October 7th last year. It was the deadliest terrorist attack Israel has ever faced.
In his resignation letter released by the military, Haliva stated: “My intelligence department did not fulfill the mission entrusted to us. Since that day, I have carried the weight of that dark day.”
During the attack on October 7th, thousands of armed militants from Hamas and other organizations breached the high-tech security barrier surrounding Gaza and launched a deadly onslaught on Israeli communities surrounding the enclave, catching the Israeli military off guard.
Approximately 1,200 Israelis and foreigners lost their lives in the attack, mostly civilians. Around 250 individuals were kidnapped to Gaza, with 133 still being held as hostages.
The attack severely damaged the reputation of the Israeli military and intelligence department, previously considered virtually unbeatable.
Shortly after the outbreak of war, Haliva publicly stated that as the head of the military department, he should take responsibility for failing to prevent the attack.
The Hamas attack triggered a war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group in Gaza. This week marks the 200th day of the conflict.
Haliva’s resignation was approved by Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The Israeli Defense Forces announced that the Chief of Staff accepted Haliva’s resignation request and thanked him for his 38 years of service.
Both Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, the Commander of the Armed Forces, and Ronen Bar, head of the domestic intelligence agency, admitted responsibility for the attack and are expected to resign as well.
Following an Israeli attack on Iran last week, the situation in the region remains highly tense, as reported by the Associated Press. Some military experts argue that resigning while the Israeli military is engaged on multiple fronts is irresponsible.
While battling Hamas, Israel also faces challenges from Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon and Syria.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that despite the pressure, he will not step down.
(This article references reports from Reuters and Fox News)