AFPIsrael’s army chief resigned, saying he acknowledged his accountability for the failure of October 7, 2023, when the Palestinian armed group Hamas carried out a lethal assault on the nation that sparked the Gaza warfare.
In a letter to the Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi admitted that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had “failed in its mission to guard the residents of Israel”.
“My accountability for the horrible failure accompanies me on daily basis, each hour, and shall be so for the remainder of my life,” he added.
The basic mentioned he would go away his put up on March 6 at a time of “important achievements” for the IDF, though he acknowledged that “not all” of Israel’s warfare targets had been achieved.
“The military will proceed to struggle to additional dismantle Hamas and its governance capabilities, safe the return of hostages” and permit Israelis displaced by assaults by armed teams to return house, he added.
Shortly thereafter, the top of the IDF Southern Command, Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman, additionally introduced he would resign, saying he had failed in his “responsibility to guard the Western Negev and its beloved and heroic residents.”
Their resignations come three days after the beginning of a ceasefire in Gaza and a hostage launch deal agreed with Hamas, which is taken into account a terrorist group by Israel, the United States and others.
Israeli army and intelligence officers missed or ignored many warnings earlier than a whole bunch of Hamas gunmen breached Gaza’s perimeter fence in a number of locations 15 months in the past and attacked close by Israeli communities, IDF bases and a music pageant. About 1,200 folks had been killed and 251 had been taken hostage.
The IDF responded by launching an air and floor marketing campaign in Gaza, throughout which greater than 47,100 Palestinians had been killed, in accordance with the native Hamas-run well being ministry.
General Halevi mentioned in a televised handle on Tuesday that Hamas’ army wing had been “severely broken”, with many of the group’s leaders and army commanders having been killed together with almost 20,000 “operationals”.
He additionally promised that the IDF investigation into the occasions of October 7, which he intends to finish earlier than leaving workplace, shall be “top quality, thorough and totally clear.”
However, he warned that the army investigation “focuses solely on the IDF and doesn’t embrace the broader elements that would stop related occasions sooner or later.”
“A fee of inquiry or another exterior physique can examine and look at and can obtain full transparency from the IDF,” he mentioned.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked General Halevi “for his a few years of service and commanding the IDF” throughout the warfare, saying it had “led to vital achievements for Israel.”
So far Netanyahu has restricted himself to saying that he’s deeply sorry for what occurred on October 7 and that he must reply “some troublesome questions” about his position, with out acknowledging any accountability. He additionally mentioned an impartial fee of inquiry ought to wait till the Gaza warfare ends.
Opposition chief Yair Lapid praised Halevi’s choice and referred to as on Netanyahu to comply with go well with.
“Now it is time for them to take accountability and resign, the prime minister and his whole catastrophic authorities,” he mentioned.
ReutersGeneral Halevi is presently overseeing the IDF’s compliance with a three-stage Gaza ceasefire settlement with Hamas that’s anticipated to see the discharge of the remaining Israeli hostages in trade for a whole bunch of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons.
In whole, 33 hostages are anticipated to be launched within the first part, which can final six weeks. Hamas handed over three girls on Sunday, when the ceasefire took impact, and mentioned it will free 4 extra girls on Saturday.
Israeli forces must also withdraw from densely populated areas of Gaza, displaced Palestinians must be allowed to start returning to their properties and a whole bunch of humanitarian vans must be allowed into the territory on daily basis.
Negotiations for the second part – which ought to see the discharge of the remaining hostages, the entire withdrawal of Israeli troops and “the restoration of sustainable calm” – are anticipated to start in simply over two weeks.
The third and last part is anticipated to contain rebuilding Gaza, which may take years, and returning the our bodies of any remaining hostages.
However, there may be a lot nervousness amongst Palestinians in Gaza and the households of the hostages about whether or not the settlement will maintain.
New US President Donald Trump mentioned this on Monday, taking credit score for brokering the ceasefire. he was not sure that all three phases would be implemented.
Netanyahu mentioned Israel already has US help to return to the struggle if it “reaches the conclusion that the second part of negotiations is ineffective.”
