Israeli military intelligence director resigns over failures in response to Hamas attack

Major General Aharon Haliva, head of Israel’s military intelligence directorate, resigned on Monday due to failures surrounding Hamas’ unprecedented attack on October 7, marking the first senior figure to step down in response to the deadliest assault in Israel’s history.

Resignation amidst fallout from Hamas attack

Haliva’s resignation comes amidst expected fallout from Israel’s top security leadership over Hamas’ attack. The assault saw militants breach Israel’s border defenses, wreak havoc in Israeli communities, and claim the lives of 1,200 people, mostly civilians, while holding roughly 250 hostages in Gaza. This event initiated the ongoing war against Hamas, now in its seventh month.

Haliva expressed regret in his resignation letter, acknowledging the failure of the intelligence directorate under his command to prevent the attack. Despite publicly accepting blame shortly after the war, his resignation now formalizes accountability.

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About the attack

The military chief of staff accepted Haliva’s resignation, with more resignations from other military and security leaders anticipated. However, the timing remains uncertain due to ongoing conflicts with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, alongside heightened tensions with Iran.

While Haliva and others have taken responsibility for the attack, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not explicitly admitted direct responsibility or indicated plans to resign. The attack, occurring on a Jewish holiday, caught Israel off guard, shattering public trust in its esteemed military institution.

The aftermath of the attack has not only impacted Israel but also reverberated throughout the region. Tensions have escalated in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and within Israeli cities and towns. 

In a separate incident on Monday, Israeli police reported a car ramming into pedestrians in Jerusalem, injuring three lightly. Security footage showed two individuals exiting the vehicle with a rifle before fleeing, though both were later apprehended by the police.

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