Israeli Military Intelligence Chief Resigns Following Inability to Prevent Worst Attack in Israel’s History

The head of Israel’s military intelligence directorate has resigned, the Israel Defense Forces said on Monday.

Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva announced his resignation after he failed to prevent Hamas’ unprecedented Oct. 7 attack, the deadliest terror attack in Israel’s history, the military said.

“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, according to a translation by the Associated Press.

Haliva is the first senior figure to step down after Hamas terrorists invaded Israel nearly six and a half months ago and rampaged through Israeli communities, killing 1,200 people – mostly civilians – and taking roughly 250 hostages back into Gaza.

Shortly after the war was initiated, Haliva said publicly that he shouldered blame as the head of the military department for not preventing the assault.

Haliva’s resignation could set the stage for additional fallout from Israel’s top security officials in the wake of the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas.  (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Other military and security leaders are also reportedly expected to resign in response to intelligence failures that did not catch the impending Oct. 7 attack.

The timing of these resignations, however, has been unclear as Israel remains in a war with Hamas, while battling the militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon and Syria.

Tensions in the region remain high after Israel traded direct attacks with Iran last week, leading some military experts to say Israeli resignations are irresponsible while the military is fighting on multiple fronts, according to the Associated Press.

Tensions in the region remain high and additional resignations at this time could be irresponsible or reckless, some military experts told the Associated Press. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Tensions in the region remain high and additional resignations at this time could be irresponsible or reckless, some military experts told the Associated Press. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not among those expected to resign and has indicated that he will not step down, despite growing protests.