Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi

Letter to Defense Minister Israel Katz Announcing Intention to Resign as IDF Chief of General Staff on 6 March 2025

First Published 21 January 2025

 

Conclusion of my role as the 23rd Chief of the General Staff of the IDF

For the past four decades, the mission of upholding the security of the State of Israel has been my life’s mission. From a young soldier and commander to the Chief of the General Staff, I am proud to have belonged to the IDF, saw it as an exemplary organization, and felt a profound responsibility as one of the defenders of the State of Israel and its citizens.

I fully understood that upon assuming command of the IDF, I was entrusted with the immense responsibility of ensuring that the IDF would be prepared to face the ultimate test of war, knowing how to deter its enemies, and, where threats were not thwarted in time -- knowing how to be protect our citizens from the enemy.

On the morning of October 7th, the IDF under my command failed in its mission to protect the citizens of Israel. The State of Israel paid a heavy and painful price -- in lives, hostages, and many wounded both physically and mentally. Even the heroic acts of bravery of so many -- members of the security forces, IDF soldiers and commanders, and brave civilians -- were not enough to prevent this major disaster. My responsibility for this terrible failure accompanies me each and every day, each and every hour, and will remain with me for the rest of my life.

The IDF knew how to rise up from an extremely challenging starting point to engage in intense combat over the past year and three months in seven different arenas. The military achievements of the IDF have reshaped the Middle East. The IDF inflicted severe damage on Hamas’s military wing and created the conditions for the return of hostages, dealt an unprecedented blow to the Hezbollah terrorist organization, and significantly weakened Iran and its regional activities. The IDF is defending the residents of the Golan Heights in the Area of Separation with Syria and has succeeded in destroying most of the Syrian Armed Forces’ capabilities. In Judea and Samaria, the IDF is conducting effective counterterrorism operations every day and every night. These achievements far exceed any war objectives discussed with the political echelon for addressing the various arenas, and their significance is even greater when considering the interconnected nature of these arenas.

These accomplishments belong, first and foremost, to the IDF’s commanders and soldiers, my subordinates. The combat soldiers of the IDF, both in active duty and reserves, from all sectors of Israeli society, rallied for this just war, fought with courage and sacrifice, and prevailed in every encounter with the enemy. We achieved these results at a heavy cost. We suffered the loss of many of our finest soldiers, the bereaved families have grown, and the war has left deep wounds and scars on many. The IDF will always remain committed to the families and the memory of the fallen.

The goals of the war have not yet been fully achieved. The IDF will continue its fight to dismantle Hamas’ governing and military capabilities, secure the return of all hostages, and strengthen the security conditions that will enable residents of the south and north to return to their homes in safety.

The IDF has initiated and implemented an extensive and unprecedented inquiry process during wartime, to learn, improve, and enhance combat and defense capabilities. This is also part of our commitment to the bereaved families, the hostages and their families, and the public as a whole. These inquiries are thorough, genuine, and rigorous. They are in their concluding stages and have already enabled the extraction and implementation of critical lessons in the IDF’s operational conduct and force buildup.

In virtue of my responsibility for the IDF’s failure on October 7th, and at a time when the IDF has recorded extraordinary achievements and restored Israel’s deterrence and strength, I request to conclude my term on March 6th, 2025. This was a decision that I took a long time ago. Now, with the IDF holding the upper hand in all arenas and another agreement for the return of hostages underway, the time has come.

In the remaining time, I will complete the inquiries and continue to strengthen the IDF’s preparedness for future challenges. In doing so, I will transfer the command of the IDF to my successor in a exemplary and orderly manner.

I will always remain a soldier of the State of Israel.

Lieutenant General, Herzi Halevi
Chief of the General Staff

Text Changes: Title changed from the original "Statement From The Chief of the General Staff" as modeled in part by The Times of Israel. Italics used across the entire text and bold font used at beginning and end of text.

Page Updated: 1/23/25

U.S. Copyright Status: Text = Used in compliance with these terms (as translated to English via Google). Image = IDF Spokesperson's Unit under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license.