The head of Israeli military intelligence, General Aharon Haliva, submitted his resignation, taking “responsibility” for the failure to prevent the unprecedented attacks perpetrated by Hamas on October 7.
He is the first Israeli political or military official to resign since the bloody incursion of Hamas fighters, which took Israel by surprise on October 7, the deadliest day in the history of the Israeli state since its inception. created in 1948.
“I will carry this terrible pain forever”
General Haliva “in coordination with the Chief of Staff requested that his functions be terminated,” the army said in a press release. “It has been decided that General Haliva will step down and retire from the army, once his successor is appointed.”
“On October 7, 2023, Hamas carried out a deadly surprise attack against the State of Israel (…) the intelligence service under my command did not fulfill the mission entrusted to us,” indicates General Haliva, who has a 38-year military career, in his resignation letter published by the Israeli army.
“I have carried that dark day with me ever since. Day after day, night after night. I will carry this terrible pain forever,” he adds.
A military operation in retaliation
The Hamas attack on October 7 resulted in the deaths of 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP count based on official Israeli figures.
All the news on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Israel in retaliation launched a military operation in the Gaza Strip, led by Hamas, promising to annihilate the Palestinian movement, whose commandos also took 250 hostages to Gaza on October 7, of which around a hundred were freed during a truce at the end of November.
Israeli operations in Gaza have left more than 34,000 dead, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas Ministry of Health.