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JERUSALEM \u2014 Israel\u2019s top general resigned Tuesday, taking responsibility for security failures tied to Hamas\u2019 surprise attack that triggered the war in Gaza and adding to pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has delayed any public inquiry that could potentially implicate his leadership.<\/p>\n
While a fragile new ceasefire in the Gaza Strip held, Israel launched a \u201csignificant and broad\u201d military operation in the occupied West Bank, killing at least nine people and injuring 40, Palestinian officials said.<\/p>\n
Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi is the most senior Israeli figure to resign over the security and intelligence breakdown on Oct. 7, 2023, when thousands of Hamas-led militants carried out a land, sea and air assault into southern Israel, rampaging through army bases and nearby communities.<\/p>\n
The attack \u2014 the single deadliest on Israel in its history \u2014 killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the militants abducted another 250. More than 90 captives are still in Gaza, around a third believed to be dead.<\/p>\n
Halevi\u2019s resignation, effective March 6, came days into the ceasefire with Hamas that could lead to an end to the 15-month war and the return of remaining captives. Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman, head of Israel\u2019s Southern Command, which oversees operations in Gaza, also resigned.<\/p>\n
Their resignations will likely add to calls for a public inquiry into the Oct. 7 failures, something Netanyahu has said must wait until the war is over. Halevi\u2019s resignation letter noted that the military\u2019s investigations into those failures were \u201ccurrently in their final stages.\u201d<\/p>\n
And Halevi made his most explicit call yet for a public inquiry in comments to journalists, saying it would be \u201cgranted full transparency\u201d by the military.<\/p>\n
Halevi had appeared to be at odds with Israel\u2019s new defense minister, Israel Katz, over the direction of the war. He said Israel had accomplished most of its goals, while Katz echoed Netanyahu\u2019s vow to keep fighting until \u201ctotal victory\u201d over Hamas. Katz replaced the popular Yoav Gallant, who Netanyahu dismissed in a surprise announcement in November after growing disagreements over the war.<\/p>\n
Netanyahu faces criticism from far-right allies over the ceasefire, which requires Israeli troops to pull back from populated areas in Gaza and envisions the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including ones convicted of involvement in deadly attacks on Israelis.<\/p>\n
Hamas has already returned to the streets, showing that it remains in control of the territory despite the war killing tens of thousands of Palestinians \u2014 including some Hamas leaders \u2014 and causing widespread devastation.<\/p>\n
The ceasefire\u2019s first phase is to last for six weeks, with 33 hostages gradually released. Three hostages and 90 prisoners were released Sunday, when it took effect. The next release is Saturday. Talks on the far more difficult second phase begin in two weeks.<\/p>\n
One of Netanyahu\u2019s erstwhile partners, Itamar Ben-Gvir, quit the government on Sunday, weakening the coalition but still leaving Netanyahu with a parliamentary majority. Another far-right leader, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, has threatened to leave if Israel does not resume the war after the ceasefire\u2019s first phase.<\/p>\n
Separately on Tuesday evening, Israel\u2019s emergency rescue service said four people were stabbed and wounded in Tel Aviv in what police described as a terror attack. Police said the attacker, a 28-year old \u201cforeign national,\u201d was killed by security forces at the scene.<\/p>\n
Israel\u2019s military campaign has killed over 47,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to local health authorities, who say women and children make up more than half of the fatalities but do not say how many of the dead were fighters. Halevi on Tuesday said close to 20,000 militants had been killed, without providing evidence.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n