Israeli army chief resigns over Oct 7 security lapse

Israel's army chief, Herzi Halevi, announced his resignation on Tuesday, taking responsibility for the catastrophic security failure on October 7, 2023, when Hamas gunmen from Gaza launched a cross-border attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and took around 250 hostages.

Halevi, who had been widely expected to step down after the deadliest day in Israeli history, said he would remain in office until March 6, 2025, completing the military’s internal investigations into the attack and bolstering the readiness of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

The resignation came amid mounting criticism, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has resisted calls for a state inquiry into its role in the breach. In his resignation letter to Defence Minister Israel Katz, Halevi acknowledged the IDF's failure to protect Israeli citizens on that fateful day.

"Israel paid heavily in human lives," he wrote, adding that the responsibility for the failure would weigh on him for the rest of his life.

While Halevi vowed to conduct a transparent investigation into the events, there are reports that other senior military leaders, including the heads of the navy and air force, might also resign.

Though Halevi was criticised by hardliners in Netanyahu's government, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, for not being aggressive enough in the Gaza war, he also received praise for the IDF’s military successes, particularly in dismantling Hamas' military capabilities.

However, the October 7 attack continues to overshadow the war's later victories. Despite the setback, Halevi expressed that Israel's military power had been restored, and public support for the IDF remains strong.

As Halevi prepares to step down, the search for his replacement begins, while the country grapples with the aftermath of the Hamas assault and ongoing conflict in Gaza.