IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi to Formally Step Down by Year's End

Walla, citing defense officials, reported on Wednesday that IDF Chief of Staff, Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi plans to announce his resignation from his position between September and December.

Until then, he intends to complete internal investigations into the war and present them to the relevant government officials.

Halevi also reportedly plans to lead a massive wave of resignations by officials in high-ranking positions who participated in the security failure that resulted on October 7.

Halevi To Announce Resignation

Officials predict that other senior officers will complete their roles as planned and leave without waiting to be removed. They also clarified that Defense Minister Yoav Gallant favors Halevi, respects his professionalism, and thinks he will guide the IDF to victory in the conflict.

Halevi persisted and managed to keep internal investigations on hold for at least five months, only allowing them to be approved in the last two weeks.

Despite the intense criticism, he also quickly promoted and assigned several senior officials, ensuring there would be enough officials to take over if these high-ranking officials resigned.

The chief of staff has managed to keep IDF personnel in high-ranking positions from being suspended until now despite the October 7 attack that resulted in the killing of over 1,200 people and the taking of over 240 hostages in the Gaza Strip.

Earlier this week, Halevi said he was responsible for what happened on October 7, what has happened since then, and what will happen. He said that the IDF is currently at war, and they focused solely on the goals of this war.

(Photo: GIL COHEN-MAGEN/AFP via Getty Images)

Halevi Replaces Chief Aviv Kohavi

Former Maj. Gen. Halevi entered office as the 23rd commander of the IDF on Monday and promised to keep politics out of the IDF.

Halevi replaces outgoing chief Aviv Kohavi, who ended his four-year tenure as the army's highest-ranking officer amid growing uncertainty for the armed forces. He warned against the dangers of its politicization in a series of farewell speeches over the weekend.

As soon as he assumed leadership, Halevi vowed to uphold morality, professionalism, and an IDF "free from all considerations other than security."

The handover began at a 10 am ceremony at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, where Halevi was promoted to lieutenant general.

Recently, Halevi took over the crucial position of IDF deputy chief of staff, which paved the way for his ascent to the top. He assumed leadership amid escalating violence in the West Bank, a plethora of obstacles along its borders with Gaza and Lebanon, and a developing war against Iran in Syria.

The security issues arise as a result of the right-wing government in Israel's attempts to reorganize military power in the West Bank and attack the army's chain of command.

At the event, Gallant referred to the far-right ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich when he stated he would try to stop "external pressure" on the IDF so Halevi could carry out his duties.