Tel Aviv, Jan 24 (V7N) – A series of high-profile resignations has shaken the Israeli military, with senior officials stepping down amidst criticism over their handling of the recent Gaza war. The army chief of staff, General Harzi Halevi, and Major General Yaron Finkelman, head of the Southern Command, are among those who have resigned.

Other key figures, including Avi Rosenfeld, commander of the Gaza Strip's military intelligence department; Aharon Haliva, commander of the 8200 intelligence unit; Yossi Sariel; and Haim Cohen, commander of the northern brigade in the Gaza Strip, have also submitted their resignations.

According to reports by Tehran-based Parstude, citing Israel's leading newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, these resignations highlight dissatisfaction within the military over perceived failures before and after the Gaza conflict. The paper noted that Halevi had assumed leadership during a politically and socially turbulent time, marked by debates over judicial reform and divisions in Israeli society.

The fallout follows Hamas' unprecedented military operation on October 7, 2023, which exposed significant vulnerabilities in Israel's defense strategy. The Israeli army faced criticism for its inability to respond effectively to the surprise offensive, which many say shattered the perception of Israel's military superiority.

Isaac Barak, a reserve general in the Israeli army, warned of a growing risk of civil unrest in Israel, suggesting that internal divisions and the military’s weakened state could lead to further instability. Barak emphasized that Hamas and Islamic Jihad had managed to regroup, while Israel's societal and military foundations remain fractured.

The resignations have underscored the need for reform and recalibration within the Israeli military, as the nation grapples with the aftermath of one of the most challenging periods in its recent history.

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