Israeli army leader resigns after massive October 7 security breach.

JERUSALEM: Israeli army leader Herzi Halevi said on Tuesday that he will retire on March 6, accepting responsibility for the huge security breach that happened on October 7, 2023, when Palestinian Hamas fighters from Gaza assaulted Israel from across the border.

Halevi, who was widely anticipated to quit following the worst day in Israeli history, said he will conclude an investigation into the Israel Defense Forces on October 7 and increase the IDF’s preparation for security threats. It was unclear who would succeed Halevi, who stated that he would delegate command of the IDF to a yet-to-be selected replacement.

Despite widespread indignation on October 7, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration has rejected requests to launch a state investigation into its role in the security breach that killed 1,200 Israelis and held almost 250 captives.

“On the morning of October 7, the IDF failed in its mission to protect Israeli citizens,” Halevi stated in his resignation letter to Defense Minister Israel Katz.

He went on to say that Israel has paid a high price in human lives, as well as the “body and soul” of those kidnapped and maimed.

“My responsibility for the terrible failure follows me every day, hour by hour, and will do so for the rest of my life,” said Halevi, a four-decade military vet.

Halevi was linked to former Defense Minister Yuv Gallant, who was sacked by Netanyahu in November, and had argued with several ministers over the exclusion of ultra-Orthodox Jewish seminary students from military service.

Several top military leaders have already resigned in response to the October 7 failures, including Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman, chief of the army’s Southern Command.

After 15 months of conflict in Gaza, the first part of a ceasefire agreement with Hamas went into effect on Sunday, with 33 captives set to be released over the next six weeks. Approximately 94 captives are reported to remain in Gaza, while some inmates may have perished.