The head of Israeli military intelligence, Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva on Monday resigned over failures to prevent October 7, Hamas attack that killed over 1000 Israelis, many of whom were children and the elderly, with hundreds taking hostage.
Shortly after the attack, 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.
Haliva in a letter of resignation said his failure to forestall the attack hurts and that it is something the will live with him for a lifetime.
The letter reads in part: “The intelligence directorate under my command did not live up to the task we were entrusted with. I carry that black day with me ever since, day after day, night after night. I will carry the horrible pain of the war with me forever.”
Haliva, as well as other military and security leaders, were widely expected to resign in response to the glaring failures that led to the attack, his resignation could set the stage for more resignations among Israel’s top security brass.
Though, the timing of the resignations has been unclear because Israel is still fighting Hamas in Gaza and battling the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah in the north. Tensions with Iran are also at a high following attacks between the two enemies.
