Israel’s top general resigns over 7 October Hamas attack – as military launches major West Bank offensive
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Palestinian officials says at least eight dead and dozens injured in what Israel calls ‘significant’ military operation in occupied West Bank. Israel's top general 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.
![[Israeli forces in armoured vehicles conduct a raid in Jenin]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/21/15/newFile-3.jpg)
Lt General Herzi Halevi, the Israeli armed forces chief of staff, 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.
![[A Palestinian stands beside a trick that was torched in an attack by suspected Israeli settlers in the West Bank village of Jinsafut]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/21/15/AP25021333240588.jpg)
As part of a the first, six-week, phase of the Gaza 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. 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, 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 go into effect 6 March. The commander of the Israeli military's Southern Command, Maj General Yaron Finkelman is also resigning.
