Israeli army chief of staff takes responsibility for Oct 7 security lapse, resigns

Israel’s army chief Herzi Halevi said on Tuesday he would resign on March 6, taking responsibility for the massive security lapse on Oct. 7, 2023 when Palestinian Hamas gunmen from Gaza carried out a cross-border attack on Israel.

Halevi, in a letter to Israel’s defence minister, had widely been expected to step down. He said he would complete the Israel Defence Forces’ inquiries into Oct. 7 and strengthen the IDF’s readiness for security challenges.

“I will transfer command of the IDF in a high-quality and thorough manner to my successor,” wrote Halevi, Chief of the General Staff of Israel’s armed forces.