TEL AVIV, Israel. Major General Aharon Haliva, the head of Israeli military intelligence, tendered his resignation on Monday, citing shortcomings in preventing Hamas’ unprecedented assault on October 7. His departure marks the first high-profile resignation in the aftermath of the deadliest attack in Israel’s history.
Haliva’s decision may pave the way for further resignations within Israel’s security hierarchy, as the fallout from Hamas’ assault continues to reverberate. The attack, which saw militants breach Israel’s border defenses and wreak havoc in Israeli communities, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals, predominantly civilians, and the seizure of roughly 250 hostages into Gaza, precipitated the ongoing conflict with Hamas, now in its seventh month.
In a resignation letter provided by the military, Haliva expressed remorse, stating, “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.”
While Haliva and others had been widely expected to resign following the glaring intelligence lapses leading up to October 7, the timing of their departures remained uncertain amidst Israel’s continued engagements with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in the north, alongside heightened tensions with Iran. Some experts caution that resignations during such tumultuous times could be perceived as a sign of weakness.
Although Haliva publicly shouldered blame for the intelligence failures, others, notably Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have stopped short of assuming direct responsibility. Netanyahu has pledged to address inquiries about his role but has refrained from outright acknowledging culpability. Amidst growing calls for his resignation and demands for prompt elections, opposition leader Yair Lapid welcomed Haliva’s departure as “justified and dignified.”
Hamas’ audacious attack on October 7, coinciding with a Jewish holiday, blindsided Israel’s security apparatus and shattered public confidence in the military’s vigilance. With Passover on the horizon, Israelis confront a solemn celebration amidst the lingering captivity of approximately 130 individuals in Gaza, underscoring the enduring trauma inflicted by the assault.
The aftermath of the attack has been marked by a devastating conflict that has claimed the lives of over 34,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to local health authorities. The widespread destruction has triggered a humanitarian crisis, prompting warnings of impending famine and spurring mass displacement among Gaza’s population.
Beyond the immediate impact on Gaza, the reverberations of the attack have reverberated throughout the region, igniting tensions in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and within Israeli territory itself. The latest incident in Jerusalem, where a car struck pedestrians before assailants fled the scene with a rifle, underscores the ongoing volatility and security challenges facing Israel.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
