Israel's top general resigns over Oct. 7 failures as it launches major operation in West Bank

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JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's top general resigned on Tuesday, citing the security and intelligence failures related to Hamas' surprise attack that triggered the war in the Gaza Strip. Israel meanwhile launched a large operation in the occupied West Bank, killing at least six people, according to Palestinian officials.

Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi is the most senior Israeli figure to resign over the security breakdown on Oct. 7, 2023, when thousands of Hamas-led terrorists carried out a land, sea, and air assault into southern Israel, rampaging through army bases and nearby communities for hours.

The attackers killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the terrorists abducted another 250. More than 90 captives are still being held in Gaza, around a third of whom are believed to be dead.

Halevi's resignation came just days into a fragile ceasefire with Hamas that could lead to an end to the war and the return of the remaining captives. Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman, head of Israel's Southern Command, which oversees operations in Gaza, also tendered his resignation.

The resignation of the two senior generals will likely add to calls for a public inquiry into the Oct. 7 failures, something Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — whose leadership could be implicated — has said must wait until the war is over.

Halevi had also appeared to be at odds with Israel's new defense minister, Israel Katz, over the direction of the war, with Halevi saying Israel had accomplished most of its goals and Katz echoing Netanyahu's vow to keep fighting until “total victory” over Hamas.

In his letter of resignation, Halevi said the military, under his command, had “failed in its mission to defend the State of Israel" when Hamas attacked but had made “significant achievements” in the ensuing war.

Halevi, who began what was meant to be a three-year term in January 2023 said his resignation would go into effect March 6.

Israel meanwhile announced a “significant and broad military operation” against Palestinian militants in Jenin. The city has seen repeated Israeli incursions and gunbattles with militants in recent years, even before the outbreak of the Gaza war.

The ceasefire with Hamas does not apply to the West Bank, where Israeli troops have carried out near-daily raids.

Netanyahu has faced criticism from his far-right allies over the ceasefire, which required Israeli troops to pull back from populated areas in Gaza, and envisions the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including some convicted of involvement in deadly attacks on Israelis.

The ceasefire is supposed to last for six weeks and see 33 terrorist-held hostages released in return for hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Three hostages and 90 prisoners were released on Sunday, when it took effect.

The truce has already seen Hamas return to the streets, showing that it remains in firm control of the territory despite 15 months of war.

One of Netanyahu's partners, Itamar Ben-Gvir, quit the government the day the ceasefire went into effect, weakening the coalition but still leaving Netanyahu with a parliamentary majority. Another, far-right leader, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, has threatened to bolt if Israel does not resume the war after the first phase of the ceasefire ends in six weeks.