Israel’s top military intelligence official has announced his resignation and said he will “carry the pain” of October 7 forever.

Major General Aharon Haliva, chief of the IDF’s Military Intelligence Directorate has become the first senior Israeli figure to step down after the IDF’s failure to prevent the Hamas terror attacks.

Haliva wrote in his letter of resignation, released earlier today: “The intelligence division under my command did not live up to the task we were entrusted with. I have carried that black day with me ever since, day after day, night after night. I will carry the pain with me forever.”

According to a statement by the military, Haliva requested to terminate his position in co-ordination with the Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen Herzi Halevi and with the approval of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. He will remain in his post “until the completion of the investigative phase” and until a replacement is appointed.

Haliva said he believed that for “the sake of the State of Israel, for the sake of the people of Israel, and for the sake of future generations” a national commission should investigate the failures of October 7 in a “thorough, in-depth, comprehensive, and precise manner.”

In the days immediately after October 7, Haliva accepted responsibility for the security failures that led to the Hamas terror attacks which resulted in the massacre of roughly 1,200 people in Israel.

At the time, Haliva called the massacre an “intelligence failure,” saying in a statement: “The Military Intelligence Directorate, under my command, failed to warn of the terror attack carried out by Hamas. We failed in our most important mission, and as the head of the Military Intelligence Directorate, I bear full responsibility for the failure.”

Other senior defence officials similarly assumed responsibility for the invasion, including the IDF Chief of Staff as well as Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, who indicated in January that he would resign at the end of the war in Gaza.

Haliva’s resignation may intensify calls for accountability from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is facing demands for an early election by protesters who say they have lost faith in his government.

The IDF said in a statement: “In co-ordination with the Chief of the General Staff, the Head of the Intelligence Directorate, MG Aharon Haliva, has requested to end his position, following his leadership responsibility as the Head of the Intelligence Directorate for the events of October 7.

"The Chief of the General Staff thanked Major General Aharon Haliva for his 38 years of service in the IDF, during which he made significant contributions to the security of the State of Israel as both a combat soldier and commander.”