IDF Chief Herzi Halevi and Southern Command Chief Resign Over October 7 Failures

Jan 21, 2025, 01:16 PM

Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi has announced his resignation, citing responsibility for the military's failure to prevent the October 7 attacks by Hamas. Halevi informed Defense Minister Israel Katz that he will step down on March 6, 2025. In his resignation letter, Halevi stated that the IDF failed in its mission to defend Israel and that the state paid a heavy price. He expressed that the 'terrible failure of October 7, 2023, haunts me every day and every hour.' Halevi is the most senior Israeli official to resign over the attack, marking a significant shift in Israel's military leadership. Additionally, IDF Southern Command chief Major General Yaron Finkelman has also announced his resignation, citing the same reasons.