Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, the Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), publicly announced his resignation, acknowledging his responsibility for the failure to protect Israeli citizens during the Hamas-led attack on October 7. In a statement, he admitted that “under my command, the IDF failed in its mission to protect the people of Israel,” and underscored the heavy and painful cost of the attack, which included lives lost, hostages taken, and both physical and emotional trauma suffered by countless individuals.
Halevi’s candid acknowledgment of the military’s failure came amid significant internal and external pressure, especially from Israel’s far-right nationalist ministers, who criticized him for not implementing their more aggressive military objectives for operations in Gaza and the West Bank.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, one of the key voices in the far-right coalition, had briefly considered resigning due to his strong opposition to a ceasefire agreement in Gaza. However, Smotrich decided to remain in his post after receiving assurances from Prime Minister Netanyahu that Israel’s military efforts would continue without interruption. In addition to Halevi’s admission, Major General Yaron Finkelman, the Commanding Officer of the IDF’s Southern Command, also resigned, taking responsibility for the failure to adequately protect the western Negev region and its residents during the October 7 assault.
Halevi’s own decision to step down came as a response to the widespread criticism of his leadership during the attack. In a letter addressed to both Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, Halevi informed them that he would resign from his position on March 6, 2025.
The military chief explained that his decision to leave was directly tied to his sense of responsibility for the IDF’s inability to prevent the Hamas attack, although he also emphasized that the military had since made significant strides in restoring Israel’s deterrence and military strength. His resignation was scheduled to take place despite the progress made by the IDF in combat operations following the attack.
More resignations on the way!
The timing of Halevi’s resignation also came after the Israeli government had set a January 30 deadline for the completion of internal military investigations into the failures surrounding the October 7 attack. Halevi’s departure is considered the highest-profile resignation connected to the security establishment’s mishandling of that catastrophic day. Notably, Prime Minister Netanyahu has declined to take personal responsibility for the IDF’s failure, stating that accountability for the incident would only come after the conclusion of the ongoing war.
Following Halevi’s resignation announcement, Netanyahu’s office issued a statement thanking the military chief for his long service and leadership of the IDF. The statement emphasized Netanyahu’s appreciation for Halevi’s efforts during his tenure, despite the criticism surrounding his performance in October. Halevi’s decision to resign came just days after a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was implemented in Gaza, with talks scheduled to begin on February 4 to seek a permanent resolution to the conflict.
In the context of these resignations and ongoing military operations, Halevi’s decision to step down has marked a significant moment in Israel’s military leadership, as it reflects both the internal challenges faced by the government and the growing calls for accountability over the security failures of October 7.
