Israeli Military Intelligence Chief Resigns Following Deadly Hamas Attack
Israeli Military Intelligence Chief, Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva, has resigned in the wake of the failure to anticipate and respond to Hamas’ recent attack on October 7th, which resulted in the deadliest assault in Israel’s history. The attack by Hamas militants killed 1,200 people and took hostages, sparking a war in Gaza that has now entered its seventh month.
Haliva expressed regret over the failure in his resignation letter and stated that he would remain in his position until a replacement is found. His resignation could potentially lead to more senior figures stepping down due to their roles in the failure.
The timing of these resignations is complicated by the ongoing conflicts with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah along Israel’s northern border. Many experts believe that resigning during multiple ongoing conflicts could be seen as irresponsible and a sign of weakness.
While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced criticism, he has not resigned despite a growing protest movement. Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid welcomed Haliva’s resignation, calling it justified and dignified.
The attack by Hamas has shattered Israelis’ trust in their military. However, the resignation of Haliva could help in restoring some of that trust. Passover celebrations were overshadowed by the hostages still held captive in Gaza, leading to a protest Seder held outside Netanyahu’s home by families of the hostages demanding their return.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has drawn warnings of an imminent famine, with fighting in the region resulting in the deaths of more than 34,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children. Additionally, Hezbollah fired rockets into northern Israel, prompting retaliatory strikes.
The tense situation was further exacerbated when a car slammed into pedestrians in Jerusalem, with two men exiting the vehicle with a rifle before fleeing the scene. They were later arrested by the police.
The Associated Press writer Julia Frankel contributed to the report from Jerusalem.
