Israeli military intelligence chief resigns over October 7 Hamas attacks
- In Reports
- 10:50 PM, Apr 22, 2024
- Myind Staff
Israel's military intelligence directorate announced on Monday that its chief has resigned due to shortcomings related to Hamas' unprecedented attack on October 7. Israel's military intelligence directorate Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva is the first senior figure to step down over his role in the deadliest assault in Israel's history that killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, while roughly 250 were taken hostages in Gaza.
"Major General Aharon Haliva, in coordination with the chief of the general staff, has requested to end his position, following his leadership responsibility as the head of the intelligence directorate for the events of October 7," the military said in a statement.
"It was decided that MG Aharon Haliva will end his position and retire from the IDF (army), once his successor is appointed in an orderly and professional process."
In his resignation letter, Haliva took responsibility for failing to prevent the attack.
"On Saturday, October 7th, 2023, Hamas committed a deadly surprise attack against the state of Israel," he wrote in the letter, a copy of which was given to journalists by the military.
"The intelligence division under my command did not live up to the task we were entrusted with”.
"I carry that black day with me ever since. Day after day, night after night. I will forever carry with me the terrible pain of the war."
Following the conflict, Haliva openly admitted responsibility, stating that as the leader of the military department tasked with supplying intelligence warnings and daily alerts to the government and military, he bore the responsibility for failing to prevent the attack.
The military said in the statement that the military chief of staff accepted Haliva’s request to resign and thanked him for his service.
Haliva, as well as other military and security leaders, were widely expected to resign in response to the glaring failures that led up to Oct. 7 and the scale of its ferocity.
But the timing of the resignations has been unclear because Israel is still fighting Hamas in Gaza and battling the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah in the north. Tensions with Iran are also at a high following attacks between the two enemies.
Haliva and some others have admitted fault for the failure to prevent the attack, yet others, notably Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have refrained from fully accepting responsibility. Netanyahu has expressed willingness to address inquiries regarding his involvement but has not explicitly acknowledged direct responsibility for the attack's occurrence. Additionally, he has not signalled any intention to resign.
The Hamas attack, occurring during a Jewish holiday, caught Israel and its esteemed security establishment completely off guard. The incident shattered Israelis' confidence in their military, which is typically regarded as one of the nation's most reliable institutions. The resignation could potentially help in rebuilding some of that trust.
The attack set off the devastating war that has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to local health officials, at least two-thirds of them children and women. It has devastated Gaza’s two largest cities, and driven 80% of the territory’s population to flee to other parts of the besieged coastal enclave. The war has sparked a humanitarian catastrophe that has drawn warnings of imminent famine.
Image source: Times of Israel
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