When the ceasefire went into effect on the Gaza front, and in advance of the completion of IDF investigations into the events of October 7 and the readiness of the IDF for the war, the IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and Chief of Southern Command Yaron Finkelman announced their intention to resign their duties.
The chief of staff noted in a letter sent to Defense Minister Yisrael Katz that he intends to leave his post on March 6, in about a month and a half, toward the end of the first phase of the hostage deal, and exactly 17 months from the start of the war. However, the Southern Command did not specify when his resignation would take effect.
After the resignation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and thanked him for his long service and for his command of the IDF in the revival war on seven fronts that brought great achievements to the State of Israel: The two agreed to meet in the next few days.
A statement issued by the Chief of Staff to the media read: “I informed the Minister of Defense today that by recognizing my responsibility for the IDF’s failure on October 7 and at the time the IDF had made significant achievements and was in the course of implementing the agreement to release hostages, I would like to terminate my position on March 6, 2025. In the remaining time period, I will complete the investigations and strengthen the IDF’s machinery for security challenges. I will transfer the command of the IDF in a qualitative and thorough manner to the replacements. I sent a letter to the Minister of Defense and the Prime Minister on the matter.”
The Letter from the Chief of Staff: “I made this decision a long time ago.
In a letter to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense, the Chief of Staff detailed his decision to resign: “On October 7, the IDF under my command failed in its mission to protect the citizens of Israel. My responsibility for this terrible failure accompanies me every day, hour after hour, and so it will be for the rest of my life.” “In recognition of my responsibility for the failure of the IDF on October 7 and at a time when the IDF has made extraordinary achievements and restored the deterrence and power of the State of Israel, I would like to terminate my position on March 6, 2025. I made that decision a long time ago.”
But in addition, the Chief of Staff mentioned the IDF’s achievements on all fronts, in the war that had been waged so far under his command: “The IDF has been able to rise from a very difficult starting point to intense fighting, for over a year and three months, in seven different theaters of war, the IDF’s military achievements have changed the Middle East,” he said. “These achievements are far above any achievement that was discussed with the political echelon of the war in each arena, and this meaning is stronger in view of the connection of the fronts.”
