Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva steps down from his position, acknowledging his role in the catastrophic failure that led to the deadliest assault in Israel’s history.
Israel’s military intelligence chief, Haliva, resigned on April 22, 2024, accepting his role in the failure to prevent the devastating Oct. 7 attack. The incident, orchestrated by Hamas militants, led to the most lethal assault in the nation’s history and commenced a war that has been ongoing for seven months.
On Oct. 7, Hamas militants breached Israel’s border defenses, rampaging through Israeli communities for hours before being challenged. The attack left 1,200 people dead, most of whom were civilians, and approximately 250 hostages were taken into Gaza. This assault marked the start of the current war against Hamas in Gaza.
In his resignation letter, Haliva expressed deep regret over the intelligence directorate’s failure, stating that he carries the weight of that day with him. He had publicly admitted his blame soon after the war began, as the head of the department responsible for issuing daily intelligence warnings and alerts.
“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.” – Aharon Haliva
Haliva’s resignation could mark the start of more resignations from Israel’s top security brass. Considering the scale and severity of the Oct. 7 incident, other military and security leaders are anticipated to step down.
The resignation comes at a complex time for Israel, which continues to battle Hamas in Gaza while also dealing with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah in the north. Additionally, tensions are high following recent attacks between Israel and Iran. Some military experts have voiced concerns that resignations at this juncture could be interpreted as a sign of weakness.
While Haliva and others have accepted blame for failing to stop the attack, others have stopped short, most notably Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He has assured that he will answer tough questions about his role but has not outright acknowledged direct responsibility. He has also not indicated that he will step down, despite growing protests demanding elections.
The Oct. 7 attack, which occurred on a Jewish holiday, shattered Israelis’ faith in their military, generally considered one of the country’s most trustworthy institutions. The resignation could help restore some of that trust.
The war initiated by the attack has killed over 34,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to local health officials. At least two-thirds of them were women and children. The conflict has led to the devastation of Gaza’s two largest cities, and 80% of the territory’s population has been forced to flee to other parts of the besieged coastal enclave. The situation has escalated to a humanitarian crisis, with warnings of an impending famine.
The attack and subsequent war have sent shock waves through the region. Tensions have escalated in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, as well as cities and towns within Israel itself.
On the day of Haliva’s resignation, a car rammed into pedestrians in Jerusalem, lightly injuring three people. Security camera footage showed two men exiting the vehicle with rifles before fleeing the scene. The police later reported that they had arrested the two men.
