The head of Israeli military intelligence, Major-General Aharon Haliva, has resigned in the aftermath of the October 7 Hamas attack, marking the first senior Israeli official to step down in acknowledgment of the security lapse. The Israeli army confirmed Haliva’s departure on Monday, stating that he took responsibility for the failure to prevent the assault, which resulted in over 1,100 casualties and around 240 captives.
In his resignation letter, Haliva expressed remorse for the intelligence directorate’s shortcomings under his command and its failure to avert the tragic events of October 7. He noted the weight of responsibility he carries for the incident, expressing profound regret for the consequences of the war that ensued.
With Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s approval, Haliva’s resignation was accepted, and plans for his retirement from the military will proceed once his successor is appointed.
The Hamas offensive caught Israel and its security apparatus off-guard, prompting a retaliatory war on Gaza, resulting in a significant loss of life according to Gaza health officials.
Haliva’s resignation underscores the gravity of the security failure, as calls persist for Israel to secure the release of captives and tensions escalate in the region, particularly concerning Iran.
