Israel’s military intelligence directorate chief, Major General Aharon Haliva, has tendered his resignation in the wake of the unprecedented October 7 attack by Hamas, the Israeli military confirmed on Monday.
The resignation comes as Major General Haliva took responsibility for the failures that led to the deadly attack, marking the first high-ranking official to step down in response to the incident, which shocked both Israel and the international community.
In an official statement, the Israeli military announced, “Major General Aharon Haliva, in coordination with the chief of the general staff, has requested to end his position, following his leadership responsibility as the head of the intelligence directorate for the events of October 7.”
The statement further outlined that Major General Haliva will retire from the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) once his successor is appointed through an orderly and professional process.
In his resignation letter, Haliva expressed his accountability for the failure to prevent the Hamas attack. “On Saturday, October 7th, 2023, Hamas committed a deadly surprise attack against the state of Israel,” he wrote, acknowledging the intelligence division’s shortcomings in fulfilling its responsibilities.
The attack by Hamas resulted in a tragic loss of lives, with an AFP tally, based on official Israeli figures, reporting the deaths of 1,170 people, predominantly civilians.
Following the attack, Israel has intensified its efforts to combat Hamas, aiming to eliminate the militant group that controls the Gaza Strip. The military campaign has led to significant casualties in Gaza, with the Palestinian territory’s health ministry reporting the deaths of 34,097 individuals, primarily women and children.
Major General Haliva’s resignation underscores the gravity of the situation and the accountability sought within Israel’s military leadership in the aftermath of the devastating Hamas attacks.
Sources By Agencies
