Israeli army chief of staff resigns over “October 7 failure”

“My responsibility for this terrible failure accompanies me every day and will accompany me all my life,” assured General Herzi Halevi.

He left his post when the guns fell silent in Gaza. The Chief of Staff of the Israeli army, General Herzi Halevi, submitted his resignation on Tuesday January 21. In a letter consulted by AFP, he explains his choice by his “responsibility” In “the failure of October 7”in reference to the unprecedented Hamas attack in Israel.

“Recognizing my responsibility for the failure of the army on October 7, and at a time when the army is recording significant successes on all fronts and a new hostage release agreement is underway, I ask terminate my duties on March 6, 2025”writes Herzi Halevi.

“On the morning of October 7, the army under my leadership failed in its mission to protect Israeli citizenss”, insists the one who has held this position since December 2022. “My responsibility for this terrible failure accompanies me every day and will accompany me all my life.”

The army also announced the resignation of the head of the military command of the Southern region, responsible, in particular, for the Gaza Strip, General Yaron Finkelman. In his letter, addressed to his superior Herzi Halevi, he claims to have “failed on October 7 to protect the beloved and heroic inhabitants” areas close to the Gaza Strip. The only resignation at this level within the Israeli army since October 7 was that of General Aaron Haliva, head of the intelligence service, in April 2024.

The leader of the opposition, Yaïr Lapid, praised the work of Herzi Halevi and called for the resignation of Benjamin Netanyahu, in a message on X on Tuesday: “Now it is time for them to take responsibility and resign – the Prime Minister and his entire catastrophic government.”