The Israeli military said on Monday that the chief of its intelligence branch has resigned, taking ownership of the errors that led to the catastrophic attack on Israel on October 7th, which was spearheaded by Hamas.
One of the senior Israeli commanders who acknowledged they had failed to predict and prevent the bloodiest attack in Israel’s history is Major General Aharon Haliva, a 38-year veteran of the military.
“The task that was given to the intelligence division under my command was not completed.” He claimed, “I have carried that dark day with me ever since,” in a military-released resignation letter.
Until a successor is named, he will hold this job. Commentators and the Israeli media anticipate further resignations when the main military operation in Gaza ends.
The attack on October 7 severely undermined Israel’s military and intelligence services’ authority, which was previously thought to be practically unbeatable by armed Palestinian organizations like Hamas.
Thousands of fighters from Hamas and other factions smashed over security barriers surrounding Gaza early in the morning, amazing Israeli authorities and tearing through neighborhoods in southern Israel. This came after an intense missile fire.
According to Israeli counts, the attack claimed the lives of some 1,200 Israelis and foreigners, most of whom were civilians. Around 250 were taken into captivity in Gaza, where 133 are still held as hostages.
Lieutenant-General Herzi Halevi, the chief of the military forces, and Ronen Bar, the head of the domestic intelligence organization Shin Bet, both acknowledged responsibility for the attack but remained in their posts as long as the war in Gaza continued.
In contrast, studies show that most Israelis blame Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for not doing enough to stop or protect against the Oct. 7 incident, even if he has yet to accept responsibility for it.
After the attack, Israel began an offensive against Gaza that, according to local health authorities, has killed over 34,000 Palestinians and devastated the heavily populated enclave.
