Israeli intelligence chief resigns over October 7 failure

The head of Israeli military intelligence has resigned for failing to prevent the October 7 Hamas attack.

The Israeli army announced the departure of Major-General Aharon Haliva on Monday. He is the first senior Israeli official to take responsibility for failing to prevent the assault, with the government seeking to keep the focus on its ongoing war in Gaza.

Haliva, who served in the military for 38 years, reportedly took responsibility for failing to prevent the attack in his resignation letter. More than 1,100 people were killed in the attack, while about 240 were taken captive.

In response, Israel launched a war on Gaza which has killed more than 34,000 people, according to Gaza health officials.

“Major General Aharon Haliva, in coordination with the chief of the general staff, has requested to end his position, following his leadership responsibility as the head of the intelligence directorate for the events of October 7,” the military said in a statement.

With the approval of Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, the military statement said, it was decided that Haliva “will end his position and retire” from the army “once his successor is appointed in an orderly and professional process”.

“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 wrote in his resignation letter.

However, the pressure has only grown as calls for Israel to agree to a deal to secure the release of the captives persist, and the tension across the region threatens to spark conflict with Iran.