The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) military intelligence chief, Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva resigned on Monday (Apr. 22), citing his failure to prevent the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.
According to the Associated Press, Haliva is the first senior IDF figure to step down from his role in what is considered to be the deadliest assault in Israel's history.
His resignation sets the stage for what was expected to be more fallout from the country's top defense and security brass over Hamas's attack when militants swept over southern Israel and killed over 1,000 people and abducted over 200 hostages, some of which have since been returned.
The Times of Israel recalled that Haliva was on vacation in Eilat on Oct. 7 and was reportedly updated at 03:00 local time regarding "certain signs coming from Gaza" about an imminent attack but allegedly took no part in consultations in the highest echelons of the IDF regarding those indications and was not available by phone for them.
Shortly after the war, Haliva had publicly said that he shouldered blame for not preventing the assault as the head of the military department responsible for providing the government and the military with intelligence warnings and daily alerts.
"The intelligence directorate under my command did not live up to the task we were entrusted with," Haliva wrote in his resignation letter. "I carry that black day with me ever since, day after day, night after night. I will carry the pain with me forever."
The IDF said in a statement that the chief of staff has since accepted the general's request to resign and thanked him for his service.
Aside from Haliva, other military and security leaders were widely expected to resign in response to the failures that led up to Oct. 7, the scale of its ferocity, and how Hamas was able to successfully raid the country on an important Jewish holiday.
However, the timing of the resignations has been unclear because Israel is still fighting against Hamas in Gaza and battling the Lebanese Shiite Muslim militant group Hezbollah. Tensions with Iran have since escalated following attacks between the two enemies.
While Haliva and others have accepted blame for failing to stop the attack, others have stopped short, most notably Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has since said he would answer tough questions about his role but has not outright acknowledged direct responsibility for allowing the attack to unfold. He has also not indicated that he would step down.
Also on Monday, Israeli police said that a car slammed into pedestrians in Jerusalem, wounding three lightly, and security camera video showed two men exiting the vehicle with a rifle before fleeing the scene. Police later said they arrested the two men.
