Israel's Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, the highest-ranking official to resign following Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attack, has stepped down in the wake of the country's worst security failure. Halevi, along with the head of Israel's Southern Command, announced their resignations days after a ceasefire with Hamas.
The resignations have sparked calls for a public inquiry into the security and intelligence lapses of Oct. 7, potentially implicating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu, who has not taken responsibility for the attack, insists that any investigation must wait until after the war.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant was fired by Netanyahu in November, with differences over war conduct cited as the reason. Gallant, a proponent of a public inquiry into the Oct. 7 failures, prioritized a hostage deal over Hamas' annihilation during his tenure.
Halevi, in accepting responsibility for the military's failure on Oct. 7, pledged to complete internal investigations before his departure on March 6. Ronen Bar, head of the Shin Bet internal security agency, took responsibility for the attack but has not resigned, awaiting post-war investigations.
David Barnea, head of the Mossad, played a key role in the recent ceasefire negotiations with Hamas. Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman, head of the military's Southern Command, expressed deep regret for failing to defend southern Israel on Oct. 7.
Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva, former head of military intelligence, resigned in April, acknowledging the directorate's failure on Oct. 7. The aftermath of the attack continues to reverberate through Israel's top leadership, with calls for accountability and introspection.
For more updates on the Israel-Hamas conflict, visit AP's war coverage.
