Israel’s top general resigned on Tuesday, citing the security and intelligence failures related to Hamas’ surprise attack that triggered the war in the Gaza Strip.
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Israel meanwhile launched a large military operation in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin on Tuesday that the Palestinian Health Ministry said had killed at least six people and wounded 35.
Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi is the most senior Israeli figure to resign over the security breakdown on October 7, 2023, when thousands of Hamas-led militants carried out a land, sea and air assault into southern Israel, rampaging through army bases and nearby communities for hours.
The attack killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting another 250. More than 90 captives are still being held in Gaza, around a third of whom are believed to be dead.
In his letter of resignation, Halevi said the military, under his command, had “failed in its mission to defend the State of Israel.” Halevi, who began what was meant to be a three-year term in January 2023, said his resignation would go into effect March 6.
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Israel had earlier announced a “significant and broad military operation” against Palestinian militants in Jenin. The city has seen repeated Israeli incursions and gun battles with militants in recent years, even before Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack ignited the war in Gaza.
