Israeli spy chief quits over October 7 failures
Al Jazeera
Haliva is first official to take responsibility for failing to prevent Hamas attack or recent Iranian counterstrike.
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 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.
“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”.
