The Israeli military’s intelligence chief has resigned, saying he took responsibility for the failures before Hamas’s attack on Israel on 7 October.
About 1,200 Israelis and foreigners – mostly civilians – were killed and 253 others were taken back to Gaza as hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
Israel responded by launching its most intense ever war in Gaza with the aims of destroying Hamas and freeing the hostages.
More than 34,000 Palestinians in Gaza – most of them children and women – have been killed in the conflict, the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry says.
A statement put out by the IDF on Monday said Maj Gen Haliva had “requested to end his position, following his leadership responsibility as the head of the intelligence directorate for the events of 7 October”
In his resignation letter, the general wrote: “I carry that black day with me ever since, day after day, night after night. I will carry the horrible pain of the war with me forever.”
He also called for the establishment of a state commission of inquiry “that can investigate and find out in a thorough, in-depth, comprehensive and precise manner all the factors and circumstances that led to the difficult events”.
“Everything I did during my service in the IDF was for the sake of the people of Israel and the State of Israel,” he added.
Maj Gen Haliva’s resignation had been anticipated, given that he had stated 10 days after the attack that he bore full responsibility for the intelligence failures of his directorate.
However, his departure is expected to be followed by further resignations among Israel’s senior military and intelligence commanders, with other officials having admitted errors and oversights in the run-up to 7 October.
The IDF’s chief of staff, Lt Gen Herzi Halevi, and the director of the Shin Bet security service, Ronen Bar, have both taken responsibility for failing to protect Israelis but decided to stay on for the war in Gaza.
Monday’s news may also add to the pressure on the veteran Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
Up to now, Mr Netanyahu has said only that he will answer tough questions about his own role, without acknowledging any responsibility, and has sought to deflect blame onto his security chiefs.
He has said that a full inquiry should wait until the war in Gaza is over.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid said on X (formerly Twitter) that Maj Gen Haliva’s decision to resign was “justified and honourable”, but added that Mr Netanyahu “should have done the same”.
