Chief of the General Staff of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) Herzi Galevi Photo: IDF press service
IDF Chief of General Staff Gertzi Galevi on Tuesday informed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz that he will step down on 6 March 2025. Galevi is leaving his post two years and two months after his appointment, ten months earlier than the standard three-year term, Ynetnews reports .
Galevi noted that the decision was a continuation of his promise made in October 2023 to take responsibility for the large-scale Hamas attack on 7 October, when the militants invaded southern Israel.
Results of the cadence and plans for the last weeks
Despite this failure, Halevi stressed the significant achievements of the IDF under his leadership, in particular in the fight against Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Assad regime in Syria, Iran, and in reaching a hostage exchange agreement with Hamas.
The general also stressed that the army managed to keep the level of terror in the West Bank low, which allowed it to focus its efforts on the main fronts – the confrontation with Hamas and Hezbollah.
Galevi said that he would complete his term before the end of the year:
- ensure the publication of the IDF report on the mistakes made on 7 October;
- will coordinate the management of the ceasefire;
- will prepare the army for a possible transition to a permanent ceasefire.
Political pressure and the role of the government
Defence Minister Israel Katz, who replaced Yoav Gallant in November 2023, actively promoted Galevi’s exit. Many analysts believe that Netanyahu is trying to shift most of the blame for the 7 October failures to the Chief of Staff, avoiding his own responsibility for his longstanding policy of coexistence with Hamas.
The question remains whether Galevi will call for a state investigation, as former military intelligence chief Aaron Halvi did when he resigned in August 2014.
Reaction in the army and society
The opinions of IDF officers on Galevi are divided. Some believe he should have left earlier to take full responsibility for the failures. Others supported his staying on to ensure the successful completion of the hostage swap deal, despite the resistance that Netanyahu was rumoured to have put up.
