IDF leadership shakeup: Israeli Chief of Staff and Southern Command Head announce resignations

In a series of unexpected announcements on January 21, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi and Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman, head of the IDF Southern Command, declared their resignations over their roles in the failures surrounding the Hamas-led assault on October 7, 2023.

Halevi formally informed Defense Minister Israel Katz of his decision to step down, effective March 6, 2025. Finkelman, in a letter addressed to Halevi, also expressed his intent to resign but did not provide a specific departure date, Caliber.Az reports, citing Israeli media.

The announcements come 15 months into a protracted war sparked by the devastating Hamas attack and just two days after a ceasefire and hostage release agreement with the Gaza-based terror group. Halevi’s resignation will coincide with the conclusion of the first stage of the ceasefire deal.

Halevi has repeatedly expressed his intention to take responsibility for the failures of October 7. In his resignation letter to Katz, he wrote, “On the morning of October 7, under my command, the IDF failed in its mission to protect Israel’s citizens. My responsibility for this terrible failure remains with me every day, every hour, and will remain with me for the rest of my life.”

In a public statement, Halevi elaborated, “I bear responsibility for the IDF’s failure, and I also bear responsibility for its achievements. I will say in advance that I wish we had not needed these achievements, and no success can undo the immense pain, sorrow, and loss caused since the war began.”

Halevi emphasized his commitment to completing the IDF’s internal investigations into the October 7 failures before his departure. “We investigate out of commitment to the fallen, the hostages and their families, and members of the Western Negev communities,” he said. He also called for the establishment of an external investigative committee to ensure accountability beyond the military’s internal reviews.

“Upon completing the IDF’s investigations, we will better understand what happened to us, why it happened, and how to fix it. The military investigation focuses solely on the IDF and cannot encompass all the causes and areas that could prevent similar events in the future,” Halevi noted.

He pledged to facilitate a seamless transfer of command to his successor, stating, “I will transfer command of the IDF in a high-quality and thorough manner to my replacement.”

Shortly after Halevi’s announcement, Finkelman disclosed his own resignation in a handwritten letter. “On October 7, I failed in my duty to protect the Western Negev and its beloved, heroic residents. This failure is seared within me for life,” he wrote.

Defense Minister Katz acknowledged Halevi’s contributions and the IDF’s accomplishments under his leadership during the war. Katz announced that he would soon begin interviewing candidates for the next IDF chief of staff, with Halevi’s deputy, Maj. Gen. Amir Baram, being a potential contender despite earlier indicating plans to conclude his tenure in February.

Halevi’s resignation marks the first time in 17 years that an IDF chief of staff has stepped down before completing their three-year term, reminiscent of Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz’s resignation in 2007 following the Second Lebanon War.

By Vugar Khalilov