Israel's top general resigns over 7 October attack

Palestinian officials say nine killed in West Bank raid

- BEL TREW & CHRIS STEVENSON

The Israeli armed forces chief of staff has announced his resignation over the security failures that allowed Hamas to attack southern Israel on 7 October 2023 – saying he will stand down in March.

Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi is the most prominent Israeli official to resign over the attack. The move comes just days into a fragile ceasefire in the Gaza war that was triggered by the attack, during which around 1,200 people were killed and another 250 people taken hostage. Israel’s retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed 47,000 Palestinians according to the enclave’s health ministry and forced 90 per cent of its 2.3 million residents from their homes.

As part of the first phase of the ceasefire, 33 of the hostages still held in the territory are due to be released, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli jails over six weeks. The first three hostages were released over the weekend, alongside 90 prisoners. A Hamas official told AFP that four women will be released this coming weekend, without naming them.

In his letter of resignation, Lt Gen Halevi said the military, under his command, had “failed in its mission to defend the state of Israel”. Lt Gen Halevi, who began what was meant to be a three-year term in January 2023, said his resignation would come into effect on 6 March. The head of the Israeli military’s Southern Command, Major General Yaron Finkelman, is also resigning.