The head of military intelligence, Aharon Haliva, is the first high-level Israeli leader to resign over the attack.
Head of Israeli Military Intelligence Aharon Haliva has announced today that he is resigning from his position.
He cites the failure to counter the October 7 attack on Israel by the terrorist organization Hamas as the reason.
– The intelligence organization I lead did not perform the task assigned to it. I have carried that dark day in my mind every single day and every single night. The terrible pain of the war will remain inside me forever, Haliva writes in his resignation letter.
Haliva has already said that he bears responsibility for the failure of the investigation. However, he is the first high-level Israeli leader to resign over the attack.
Pressure on Israel’s military and intelligence leadership has been high since Hamas surprised Israel with the bloodiest attack in its history.
Hamas fighters killed more than 1,200 Israelis, most of them civilians. The killings were very brutal in many places. In addition, Hamas took an estimated 250 Israelis hostage.
According to the Associated Press news agency, a number of military experts consider the resignation of the top leadership irresponsible in a situation where Israel is at war with both Hamas and Hezbollah, and tensions between it and Iran are at their highest in decades.
The army has traditionally been one of the most trusted institutions in Israel, and it is hoped that Haliva’s resignation will restore the citizens’ trust, which was eroded after the October attack.