Israel’s top general resigns on October 7, citing security and intelligence failures

Israel’s top general resigned on Tuesday, reeling from security failures linked to a surprise attack by Hamas that sparked a war in Gaza and added pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has delayed any public inquiry into his leadership.

As a new ceasefire in the Gaza Strip continues, Israel has launched a major offensive in the West Bank, killing at least eight people, Palestinian officials said.

Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi is Israel’s highest-ranking official who resigned amid security concerns on Oct. 7, 2023, when thousands of terrorists led by Hamas carried out land, sea and air attacks on southern Israel, raiding military bases as well. nearby communities hours.

The attack killed around 1,200 people, most of whom were civilians, and another 250 were taken hostage. More than 90 hostages are still being held in Gaza, about a third of whom are believed to have died.

The subsequent Israeli military campaign has killed more than 47,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to local health authorities, who say women and children make up more than half of the dead but would not say how many of the dead were non-combatants.

In his resignation letter, Halevi said the army, under his direction, “failed in its duty to protect the state of Israel.” Halevi, who began his intended three-year term in January 2023, said his resignation will take effect on March 6.

‘Important’ military operation in Jenin

Israel earlier announced a “significant and extensive military operation” against Palestinian militants in Jenin. The city has seen repeated Israeli attacks and gun battles with militants in recent years, even before a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, started the war in Gaza.

The Ministry of Health in Palestine said that 35 people were injured in the operation. It does not distinguish between militants and civilians in its calculations.

The latest move comes days into a fragile ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza that is set to last six weeks and free 33 hostages held by the terrorists in return for hundreds of Palestinians held by Israel. Three hostages and 90 prisoners were released on Sunday, when the ceasefire began.

Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians want an independent state that includes all three territories.

The ceasefire does not apply in the West Bank, which has seen violence since the start of the war. Israeli forces have carried out almost daily attacks that often escalate into gun battles.

Attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank have increased

There has also been an increase in attacks on Palestinians by Jewish extremists – including an explosion in two Palestinian villages on Monday night – and attacks on Palestinians in Israel.

Hamas has condemned Israel’s operation in Jenin, calling on Palestinians in the West Bank to step up their attacks.

The smallest and most powerful Islamic Jihad terrorist group also condemned the attack, saying it showed “Israel’s failure to achieve its goals in Gaza.” It also said it was a “huge effort” by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to save his ruling coalition.

Netanyahu has faced criticism from his far-right allies over the ceasefire, which required Israeli troops to withdraw from occupied Gaza and saw the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including ringleaders convicted of involvement in deadly attacks in Israel.

The ceasefire has already seen Hamas return to the streets, showing that it still firmly controls the area despite 15 months of war that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and caused extensive damage.

One of his old allies, Itamar Ben-Gvir, resigned from the government the day it took effect, weakening the coalition but still leaving Netanyahu with a majority in parliament.

Another, right-wing leader, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, has threatened to dismantle it if Israel does not resume hostilities after the first phase of the ceasefire expires in six weeks.