IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi has implied that he may step down after an Israeli government investigation into the failures that led to October 7 has been completed.

The general wrote to soldiers after Defence Minister Israel Katz refused to approve the appointment of two officers due to their alleged culpability in mistakes that allowed the Hamas attack.

Halevi said: "Criticism is being heard regarding the appointment process, in light of the defence failure on October 7…

“At the end of the investigations, we will also make personal decisions and commanders will exercise responsibility, from me down. I have no intention of passing over personal decisions when the picture becomes clearer to us.”

Appointing officers, he said, is "not a privilege, but rather a command and operational duty."

Halevi continued: "As Chief of Staff, I am the one who defines the complexity of the tasks, who sends you to the battlefield. It is my responsibility and duty to ensure that the IDF continues to win, provide security, and fulfill its missions, and as such, it is also my responsibility to appoint and develop you for the next roles."

He added: "Investigating the events of October 7 is an integral part of the process… [This is] being done with great seriousness and deep pain, primarily to improve and learn.”

An unofficial civilian probe into the Israeli failures that allowed Hamas to invade Israel and massacre 1,200 people published this week found Benjamin Netanyahu, the IDF, Shin Bet, and others culpable.

It said that the prime minister consistently undermined national security decision-making by creating a rift between Israel's military and political leadership.

The investigation was established by relatives of October 7 victims after Netanyahu refused to approve a state commission of inquiry.

“Arrogance and inherent blindness also led the political leadership to continue to work to strengthen Hamas by transferring funds and avoiding an offensive initiative in the face of threats, all while idealising reality and attempting to buy security quiet from Hamas with money,” the independent probe said.