The head of Israel’s military intelligence, Aharon Haliva, has resigned due to failures related to Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack, which breached Israel’s defences, AFP reported. This attack resulted in civilian casualties in Israel.
However, Hamas strike was a retaliatory attack to decades long occupational crimes that Israel has been committing in Gaza. Since October 7, 2023, Israel has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians. Mostly the victims are children and women.
Haliva previously expressed responsibility for not preventing the assault shortly after it occurred. His resignation was accepted by the military chief of staff, acknowledging his service.
This resignation may pave the way for other senior Israeli security officials to accept responsibility for the attack and step down.
The death toll from Israel’s war on Gaza climbed to more than 34,000, with the majority of victims women and children, Nuseirat and six killed by an overnight airstrike on a house in Rafah on Saturday.
The latest grim milestone comes as hope of a ceasefire has dimmed, and global attention has shifted to the dangerous exchange of missile and drone strikes between Iran and Israel.
Nearly 77,000 people have also been wounded, according to health authorities. The figures exclude tens of thousands of dead who are believed to be buried in the bombed-out ruins of homes, shops, shelters and other buildings.
With talks in effect on hold, Israel has pushed ahead with a ground operation in southern Rafah, the only part of Gaza where it has not sent in troops. Air strikes have continued there, and one on Friday night hit a home in western Tel al-Sultan neighbourhood, killing nine people.
