On Monday, Israel’s Military Intelligence Chief, Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva resigned over failure to prevent Hamas’ October 7 attacks. Haliva becomes the first senior official to step down amid criticism of Israeli abilities to predict or respond to the terrorist organization’s plot and signals a larger trend that more top officials’ resignations may follow.
The attacks marked the start of the war in Gaza with Israeli Defense Forces combatting Hamas, the Palestinian terrorist organization.
In his resignation letter, provided by the Israeli military to the Associated Press, Haliva wrote:
The intelligence directorate under my command did not live up to the task we were entrusted with. I carry that black day with me ever since, day after day, night after night. I will carry the horrible pain of the war with me forever.
Ten days after the Hamas attacks, Haliva took accountability for operational failures, saying on October 17:
The Military Intelligence Directorate, under my command, failed to warn of the terror attack carried out by Hamas, We failed in our most important mission, and as the head of the Military Intelligence Directorate, I bear full responsibility for the failure.
The high-profile resignation comes as Jews around the world prepare to celebrate the weeklong observance of Passover. The major Jewish holiday recognizes the story of Exodus found in the Bible and other texts, where Hebrew slaves were led out of the Egyptian desert and across the Red Sea by Moses.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remembered the plight of the 133 hostages Hamas is still holding captive as the holiday commenced on Monday, taking a somber tone in comparison to the jovial celebration of freedom associated with Passover.
He wrote on X, formerly Twitter:
As we gather around the Seder table to commemorate and celebrate our journey from slavery to freedom, our hearts are heavy with the plight of the 133 Israelis who remain in captivity. Our resolve remains unyielding to see all hostages back with their families.
As we gather around the Seder table to commemorate and celebrate our journey from slavery to freedom, our hearts are heavy with the plight of the 133 Israelis who remain in captivity in Hamas’ terror tunnels. Although 124 hostages are back with their loved ones, our resolve…
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) April 22, 2024
However, some Israelis blame Netanyahu for not preventing the October 7 attacks, or having secured the freedom of the hostages that remain in activity. Hundreds gathered outside the residence of the Prime Minister in the coastal city of Caesarea to hold a protest seder, a traditional holiday meal. Among those gathered included family members of some of the Israeli hostages.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid welcomed Haliva’s resignation, saying it was “justified and dignified,” and suggested the Prime Minister should also resign.
‘Along with authority comes heavy responsibility.’ The retirement of the head of Amn is justified and honorable. It would have been appropriate for Prime Minister Netanyahu to do the same.
As the war continues into its seventh month, Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets into northern Israel, on Monday which was met with retaliatory strikes from Israeli Forces.
Haliva will remain at his post in Israeli Military Intelligence until a replacement is found.
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