Israeli military chief resigns due to October 7 Hamas massacre: 'A constant burden'

Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) chief of staff, announced his resignation on Tuesday, admitting the military's mistakes during the October 7th Hamas terrorist attacks.

The end of a four-decade military career for him, scheduled for March 2025, has sparked political turmoil, prompting opponents of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to urge him to resign.

On October 7, my command of the IDF resulted in a mission failure to safeguard Israel's citizens. This error continues to burden me daily and will do so for the rest of my life, as it occurred during an unprecedented attack by Hamas that resulted in the deaths of over 1,400 Israelis and the abduction of dozens.

Despite the October 7 tragedy, Halevi emphasized the IDF's accomplishments under his leadership, including operations that weakened Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran's regional influence. "The IDF successfully rose from a challenging position to engage in intense combat for over a year and three months across seven theaters of operation," he declared. "The military achievements of the IDF have transformed the Middle East."

Halevi stated that the objectives of the war have not been fully accomplished. He emphasized that his resignation followed the cease-fire and a new deal for hostage returns. The IDF will continue fighting to dismantle Hamas’s governing capabilities, secure the return of all hostages, and strengthen security conditions to ensure the safe return of residents to their homes.

The Chief of Staff was thanked by Prime Minister Netanyahu for his leadership and service during the War of Revival across seven fronts, which resulted in significant achievements for the State of Israel. Defense Minister Israel Katz also commended Halevi's contributions and stated that he would continue to fulfill his duties until the end of his tenure.

The resignation of Halevi signifies the most significant departure from Israel's security establishment following the events of October 7. Netanyahu has refused to accept responsibility for those failures, repeatedly stating that accountability will only be determined after the war.

Yair Lapid, Benny Gantz, and Avigdor Lieberman commended Lieutenant General Halevi's integrity and urged Netanyahu and his government to resign. They called for a state commission of inquiry to restore public trust.

A bill to establish a state commission of inquiry into the events of Oct. 7 will be submitted by Knesset member Orit Farkash-Hacohen on Wednesday, following the resignation of the IDF chief of staff.

The families of Oct. 7 victims called for a state inquiry and demanded accountability from both the military and government, stating that they will not rest until a commission is established to prevent future disasters.

The resignation of Halevi has intensified the pressure on Netanyahu, whose government is currently experiencing historically low public approval, as indicated by recent polls.

The search for Halevi's successor has already started, with potential candidates including Eyal Zamir, the current director-general of the Ministry of Defense, who previously served as deputy chief of staff under former Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi. Other candidates for the position include Northern Command Chief Maj. Gen. Uri Gordin and the current deputy chief of staff, Amir Baram, who reportedly asked Halevi to step down several weeks ago.