Israeli Army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi has reportedly set a deadline to resign by December, due to the failure to prevent Hamas’ October 7 raid on southern Israeli military sites and settlements, which caught Israeli intelligence and the army by surprise, according to local media.
Channel 12 in Israel reported that Halevi plans to step down at the end of the year, contingent on the completion of investigations into the military’s inadequate response to the Hamas attack. During a conversation with colleagues, Halevi revealed his intention to resign, believing the year’s end to be the right moment to do so, the broadcaster claimed.
The same report suggested that by December, the Israeli military is expected to have finalized its preparations for a potential large-scale conflict with Lebanon.
However, according to the Times of Israel, the army dismissed the Channel 12 report as “baseless.”
Despite the denial, speculation about Halevi’s resignation continues to grow.
In related developments, several high-ranking officials resigned after the October 7 events. Brigadier General Yossi Sariel, commander of the Israeli army’s Unit 8200, resigned following criticism over intelligence failures related to the Hamas attack. Sariel, who assumed command in February 2021, is one of seven senior officials who have left their posts under similar circumstances.
Among those who have stepped down in recent months are Brigadier General Avi Rosenfeld, commander of the Gaza Division, and several other key figures in Israeli intelligence and security services.
Major General Aharon Haliva, head of the Military Intelligence Directorate, resigned earlier in April, citing failures to anticipate the Hamas attack.
