Major General Haliva, an IDF veteran of 38 years of service, declared, “The agonising suffering of the war will forever remain within me.”
The resignation of the Israeli military intelligence commander follows the failures that precipitated the deadly Hamas attack on Israel on October 7.
A number of senior commanders, including Major General Aharon Haliva, stated that they were unable to foresee or avert the most catastrophic assault in the annals of the nation.
Since the assault, he is the first senior figure to resign from the IDF.
He stated in his letter of resignation that the intelligence division entrusted to his command “failed to perform the duties for which we were responsible.”
Major General Haliva, an IDF veteran of 38 years, continued, “Since that dark day, it has remained in my heart, haunting me through each passing day and nocturnal. I will eternally bear the agonising torment of the war.”
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Israel did not anticipate the group’s unexpected assault when militants stormed the Gaza frontier and rampaged through Israeli communities, military bases, and a music festival, despite reports that lower-level intelligence officials were aware of Hamas’s preparations for an attack.
Approximately 1,200 Israelis and foreigners, the majority of whom were civilians, were slain, and 250 were captured as hostages in Gaza.
Israel, hours after the assault and seven months into the conflict, declared war on Hamas in an effort to exterminate the militant organisation and free the detainees.
More than 34,000 Palestinians, primarily women and children, have been slain since then, according to the health ministry, which is operated by Hamas.
A number of IDF chiefs, including the head of the domestic intelligence agency Shin Bet, Ronen Bar, and Lieutenant-General Herzi Halevi, were anticipated to tender their resignations subsequent to October 7th, in light of the failings that were acknowledged. However, both leaders have remained in their positions as the conflict persists.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has previously stated that “everyone will have to give answers” regarding the blunders, including himself, but he has not accepted direct responsibility as of yet.
According to the IDF, Major General Haliva’s chief of general staff expressed gratitude for his tenure, during which he “made substantial contributions to the security of the State of Israel as a commander and combat soldier.”
Yair Lapid, leader of the Israeli opposition, praised X’s resignation, describing it as “justified and dignified” and adding, “Prime Minister Netanyahu should follow suit.”
“Bibi will oppose” IDF sanctions.
Axios, a news website based in the United States, reported on Saturday that the United States is planning to sanction the IDF battalion Netzah Yehuda for purported human rights violations while operating in the occupied West Bank.
The IDF stated that it was not informed of such measures, and Mr. Netanyahu added, “Should anyone believe they have the ability to impose sanctions on an IDF unit, I shall oppose it with utmost determination.”
A criminal inquiry was initiated by Washington in response to allegations that soldiers of the battalion were implicated in the demise of Omar Assad, a Palestinian American, in 2002. Assad suffered a myocardial infarction subsequent to his detention and subsequent discovery abandoned at a construction site.
Two officers were terminated and a battalion commander was reprimanded, but Israel did not pursue criminal charges.
Recent incidents, some of which were documented on video, have involved Netzah Yehuda troops being accused or charged with mistreating Palestinian detainees.
“Very soon,” according to US President Joe Biden, an announcement may be made.
