Israel’s top general resigns over Oct. 7 failures as it launches major operation in West Bank
Israel’s top general announced Tuesday he’s stepping down from his post as he accepted responsibility for the failures connected to Hamas’ slaughter of 1,200 Israelis on Oct. 7, 2023, that led to the war in Gaza.
The resignation of Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi came as the new cease-fire between the Jewish state and terror group is just a few days old and as Israel started a “significant and broad” military operation in the occupied West Bank.
Halevi, whose departure is effective March 6, is the highest senior Israeli figure to leave over the security and intelligence breakdowns that happened during Hamas’ surprise attack on the country through air, sea and ground.
Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman, the leader of Israel’s Southern Command, which oversees operations in Gaza, also stepped down.
The personnel moves could also add more pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to open a public inquiry into the failures that he has delayed so far.
Halevi’s resignation letter stated the military’s probes into security issues on Oct. 7. 2023, were “currently in their final stages.” He also stressed to reporters that a public inquiry should be started, saying it would be “granted full transparency” by the military.
Halevi is apparently in disagreement with Israel’s new defense minister, Israel Katz, over the progress of the war in Gaza. While Katz has said the Israel Defense Forces should continue to fight until “total victory” over Hamas, the soon-to-depart military leader said Israel has achieved most of its goals.
While there is a cease-fire in Gaza, a new operation began against Palestinian terrorists in Jenin in the West Bank, in which there have been repeated Israeli incursions and gunfights in recent years.
The operation has killed nine people and injured 40, Palestinian authorities.
A spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on security forces to practice “maximum restraint” in the West Bank.
The area has seen ongoing violence during the war in Gaza with Israeli troops carrying out almost-daily raids that often lead to gun battles
There have been attacks on Palestinians by Jewish extremists, including two Palestinian villages targeted overnight Monday, and Palestinians that have attacked Israelis.
Hamas slammed the new Israeli operation in Jenin and urged Palestinians in the West Bank to ramp up attacks while the smaller and more radical Islamic Jihad militant group called it a “desperate attempt” by Netanyahu to save his governing coalition.
Netanyahu has faced backlash from far-right allies over the cease-fire that has led Israeli forces to pull back from populated areas in Gaza and could lead to the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including those convicted of involvement in the deadly attacks on Israelis.
The first phase of the cease-fire is expected to see 33 Israeli hostages freed from Gaza over six weeks of peace before a potential phase two gets underway if Israel and Hamas can strike a further agreement.
That phase could end the war and lead to the release of the rest of the living hostages in the Palestinian territory.
Now-former national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir quit the government on Sunday that weakened the coalition, but still leaves Netanyahu with a parliamentary majority.
