Israeli military chief resigns over 'failure' on 7 October as deadly raids launched in West Bank

LAST UPDATE | 15 hrs ago

THE HEAD OF the Israeli military has announced his resignation today, citing the army’s failure to prevent the Hamas-led attack of October 2023. 

Lt. General Herzi Halevi, who took up the role at the military’s Chief of Staff in 2023 and led the army during the 15 months of Israel’s war on Gaza, said in his resignation letter:

“My responsibility for the terrible failure accompanies me every day, every hour and will for the rest of my life.”

He also said that Israel’s war aims “have not all been achieved” in the Palestinian territory.

“The army will continue to fight to further dismantle Hamas and its governing capabilities, ensure the return of the hostages” and enable Israelis displaced by militant attacks to return home, he said.

Halevi has requested to leave his role on 6 March, saying “until then, I will complete the inquiries into the events of 7 October and strengthen the (military’s) readiness”.

Shortly after his announcement, Major General Yaron Finkelman also resigned. Finkelman headed Israel’s southern military command, which is responsible for Gaza.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid has since called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government to resign.

Lapid said he saluted military chief Herzi Halevi for stepping down and added: “Now, it is time for them to take responsibility and resign – the prime minister and his entire catastrophic government.”

West Bank raids

Meanwhile, Israel has launched a large-scale series of raids in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin that the Palestinian Health Ministry said has killed at least ten people and injured 35.

Jenin governor Kamal Abu al-Rub told AFP the operation was “an invasion of the (refugee) camp”.

“It came quickly, Apache helicopters in the sky and Israeli military vehicles everywhere,” he added.

An AFP journalist said Palestinian security forces, who had been conducting an operation against armed factions in the area since early December, left some of their positions around the camp before the arrival of Israeli forces.

He reported the frequent sound of explosions and gunfire echoing from the camp.

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The spokesman for the Palestinian security forces, Anwar Rajab, said in a statement that Israeli forces had “opened fire on civilians and security forces, resulting in injuries to several civilians and a number of security personnel, one of whom is in critical condition”.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the raid aimed to “eradicate terrorism” in Jenin and was part of a broader strategy to counter Iran “wherever it sends its arms – in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen” and the West Bank.

The Israeli government has accused Iran, which backs armed groups across the Middle East including Hamas in Gaza, of attempting to send weapons and money to militants in the West Bank.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said its first responders treated seven people injured by live ammunition and that Israeli forces were hindering their access to the area.

Jenin has seen repeated Israeli incursions and gun battles with militants in recent years, even before 7 October 2023.

The latest raids came just days into a fragile ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza that is supposed to last for six weeks and see 33 militant-held hostages released in return for hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Three hostages and 90 prisoners were released on Sunday, when it took effect.

Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem in 1967. Palestine seeks an independent state encompassing all three territories.

The Gaza ceasefire does not apply to the West Bank, which has seen a surge of violence since the start of the war. Israeli troops have carried out almost daily raids that often prompt gun battles.

There has also been a rise in attacks on Palestinians by Jewish extremists, including a rampage in two Palestinian villages overnight, as well as Palestinian attacks on Israelis.

Hamas condemned the Israeli operation in Jenin, calling on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank to step up their own attacks.

The smaller and more radical Islamic Jihad militant group also condemned the operation, saying it reflected Israel’s “failure to achieve its goals in Gaza”. It said it was also a “desperate attempt” by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to save his governing coalition.

Netanyahu has faced criticism from his far-right allies over the ceasefire, which required Israeli troops to pull back from populated areas in Gaza and envisions the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including militants convicted of involvement in deadly attacks on Israelis.

One of his erstwhile partners, Itamar Ben-Gvir, quit the Israeli government the day the ceasefire went into effect, weakening the coalition but still leaving Netanyahu with a parliamentary majority.

Another, far-right leader, finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, has threatened to resign if Israel does not resume the war after the first phase of the ceasefire ends in six weeks.

With reporting from AFP and David Mac Redmond

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