IDF Chief Halevi resigns over Oct 7 attack: 'My responsibility for this terrible failure remains with me every day’

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi on Tuesday announced his intention to resign his post on March 6, citing the failures of the army under his command on Oct. 7, 2023.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the called Halevi after his announcement and “thanked him for his many years of service as well as for commanding the IDF in the War of Redemption on seven fronts, which has led to major achievements for the State of Israel.”

The two leaders, who reportedly haven’t always seen eye to eye in the past months, agreed to meet in the coming days.

Shortly after Halevi’s announcement, the head of the IDF Southern Command, Maj.-Gen. Yaron Finkelman, also announced his intention to resign, without citing a specific date for his resignation.

In the wake of their resignations, a wave of additional resignations by high-ranking security officials is widely expected. The only senior commander who resigned over failures in connection with Oct. 7 so far is former Intelligence Directorate head Aharon Haliva.

In his resignation letter, Halevi wrote: “On the morning of October 7, under my command, the IDF failed in its mission to protect Israel’s citizens. The State of Israel paid a heavy and painful price – in lives lost, in hostages taken, and in those wounded both physically and emotionally.”

“My responsibility for this terrible failure accompanies me every day, every hour, and will remain with me for the rest of my life.”

Noting the numerous achievements of the military since the disaster, Halevi stressed that they “first and foremost, belong to the IDF’s commanders and soldiers – my subordinates.”

He added that his decision had been made “long ago. Now, with the IDF holding the upper hand in all theaters of combat and with another hostage return agreement underway, the time has come,” Halevi wrote.

Finkelman also highlighted that “On October 7, I failed in my duty to protect the Western Negev and its beloved, heroic residents. This failure is seared within me for life.”

In his resignation letter, Finkelman stressed that “In this war, we have inflicted a severe blow on Hamas. The mission is not yet complete,” adding he would continue in his position “for as long as I am needed.”

Halevi’s resignation was met with praise and understanding by opposition leaders, who demanded that Netanyahu should now also resign in recognition of his failures in connection with Oct. 7.

“I salute…Herzi Halevi. Now let the prime minister and his entire disastrous government take responsibility and resign,” Opposition Leader Yair Lapid wrote.

National Unity party leader Benny Gantz said: “The chief of staff is responsible for the October 7 disaster and is also responsible for the IDF’s tremendous recovery.”

“He took responsibility from the first moment, exercised it on the battlefield and is now also exercising his public responsibility in a manner worthy of appreciation,” Gantz said, adding a call to Netanyahu to establish a state commission to investigate the Oct. 7 failures and demanding new elections “so that a government can be established that will regain the public’s trust.”

“After the resignation of the [IDF] chief of staff, I call on the prime minister and the other members of the cabinet to take responsibility and follow him home,” Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman said.

“Thank you, Herzi. Netanyahu, now it’s your turn,” The Democrats’ Yair Golan quipped.

Defense Minister Israel Katz thanked Halevi for his decades-long contribution to the military “as a fighter and as a commander, and for his part in the great achievements of the IDF in the difficult war that was imposed on us.”

Halevi “will continue to fulfill his duties and will carry out an orderly transition procedure until the end of his duties,” Katz added.

According to Walla News’ military correspondent Amir Bohbot, the leading candidate to replace Halevi is Maj.-Gen. (ret.) Eyal Zamir, who is currently the Defense Ministry’s Director-General.