Israel’s army chief of staff announced on Tuesday that he would resign in early March, citing in part the army’s failure while under his command to protect people from an attack led by Hamas on October 7, 2023.

Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, who assumed the role in early 2023, led Israel’s military during the 15-month war in Gaza, the ground invasion of Lebanon, airstrikes and military operations in Syria, and Iran’s ballistic missile attacks.

But the high toll of Hamas attacks – 1,200 dead in Israel and 250 hostages in Gaza – has long fueled expectations in Israel that the country’s security chiefs will finally resign.

General Halevi wrote in his resignation letter that he “decided to resign a long time ago”. He said the time was “ripe now” for him to leave, with the military restoring “Israeli deterrence and power” and a ceasefire and hostage release deal with Hamas in Gaza.

“My responsibility for a terrible failure follows me every day, every hour, and will follow me for the rest of my life,” he wrote.