The Israeli military chief of staff announced on Tuesday that he would resign in early March, citing in part the militaryтАЩs failure while under his command to protect people from the Hamas-led attacks on Oct. 7, 2023.
Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, who assumed the role in early 2023, has led the Israeli military throughout 15 months of war in Gaza, a ground invasion of Lebanon, airstrikes and military operations in Syria, and Iranian ballistic missile attacks.
But the heavy toll of the Hamas attacks тАФ 1,200 dead in Israel and 250 taken hostage to Gaza тАФ had long prompted an expectation in Israel that the countryтАЩs security chiefs would ultimately resign.
In his letter of resignation, General Halevi wrote that he тАЬmade the decision to resign a long time ago.тАЭ He said that the time was тАЬnow ripeтАЭ for him leave, with the military having rebuilt тАЬIsraelтАЩs deterrence and mightтАЭ and with a cease-fire and hostage-release deal with Hamas in place in Gaza.
тАЬMy responsibility for the terrible failure accompanies me every day, every hour and will for the rest of my life,тАЭ he wrote.
