The Commander of Israel’s Armed Forces Announces His Resignation

Major General Gertsi Halevi, the Commander of the Israeli Armed Forces, has announced his resignation, admitting personal responsibility for the catastrophic failure in ensuring security that led to the bloody Hamas attack on October 7. Halevi is set to leave his position on March 6, but it is still unknown who will succeed him, reports NewsBox.

The IDF Chief of Staff has stated that he bears full responsibility for the failure that resulted in the loss of over 1,200 Israeli lives and the hostage-taking of more than 200 people, many of whom perished in the subsequent months, writes BBC.

"On the morning of October 7, the IDF failed in its mission to protect the citizens of Israel," Halevi declared in his address to Israel’s Defense Minister Katz.

Halevi stressed that the country paid a tremendous price for this mistake, losing hundreds of lives and enduring the grief of abductions and injuries.

"The responsibility for this dire failure weighs on me every day, every hour, and I will carry this burden to the end of my days," he confessed.

Halevi’s resignation comes amidst an ongoing Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip, where according to the latest figures from Hamas-controlled health ministry, 47,107 Palestinians have been killed. Israel disputes these figures, yet the UN considers them largely credible. An independent study published in the Lancet suggests that the actual death toll may be 40% higher.

On January 19, a fragile ceasefire began in Gaza, during which the first exchange occurred: three Israeli hostages were freed in return for 90 Palestinian prisoners.

Halevi’s resignation marks a significant moment for Israel, which is trying to reassess the events of October 7 and find a path to restoring trust in its security forces. The question of who will take the role of armed forces commander remains open, but it is clear that the new leader will face the challenging task of restoring safety and stability in the region.