The World Briefly
April 23, 2024Mea Culpa
Israel
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The head of Israel’s military intelligence resigned on Monday, saying he was taking responsibility for the failure to detect and halt Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack that killed more than 1,200 people and launched the war in Gaza, Al-Monitor reported.
Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva is the first top official in Israel to step down in the aftermath of the attack, which marked the single deadliest day in the country’s history. Soon after, many questioned how Israel’s vaunted intelligence services could fail so spectacularly.
In a statement, Haliva said his services did not fulfill “the task (they) were entrusted with.”
“I carry that black day with me ever since, day after day, night after night,” he added.
His resignation could be the start of resignations by other high-ranking Israeli officials, the Associated Press wrote. Opposition leader Yair Lapid, who welcomed Haliva’s decision, said he hopes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will follow.
Protesters have been demonstrating for months for the prime minister to resign.
Meanwhile, the prime minister thanked the US for its newly approved aid package to Israel, while vowing to deliver “additional and painful blows” to Hamas. For two months, Netanyahu has promised a ground invasion of Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city, where half of the enclave’s 2 million people have taken shelter. Allies including the US have stated their opposition to such a move.
Overnight Monday, Rafah was among the cities hit by Israeli airstrikes, killing at least 20 people, the Associated Press reported.
Israeli strikes so far have killed 34,151 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Meanwhile, the Israeli government lashed out at the US for its plans to sanction the Israeli Defense Forces’ ultra-Orthodox battalion known as Netzah Yehuda for human rights violations in the West Bank, Axios reported.
Sources within the US government told Axios that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had decided to sanction the battalion following an investigation into incidents of violent behavior against Palestinian civilians that predated the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.
“If somebody thinks they can impose sanctions on a unit in the IDF – I will fight this with all my powers,” Netanyahu said.
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