On January 21, 2025, Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi resigned amid security failures that allowed Hamas to launch an attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Halevi's resignation marks a significant moment as he becomes the highest-ranking Israeli official to step down due to the Hamas assault. This decision follows a fragile ceasefire agreement with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Major General Yaron Fickelman, who led the Israeli Southern Command overseeing operations in Gaza, also resigned. The departures of these senior generals are likely to intensify calls for a public inquiry into the failures surrounding the October 7 attack, an investigation that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated should wait until the conclusion of the ongoing war.
Halevi's resignation comes amid reported disagreements with Israel's new Defense Minister Yoav Gallant regarding the direction of the military campaign. Halevi stated that while the army had failed to protect Israel during the initial attack, it achieved significant successes in subsequent military operations. He emphasized the military's commitment to dismantling Hamas's capabilities and ensuring the return of hostages.
As the ceasefire continues for a third day, a Hamas official confirmed the planned release of four Israeli women as part of a second exchange deal. However, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed skepticism about the ceasefire's durability, asserting that it is not America's war.
In contrast, Qatar, which has played a mediating role alongside the U.S. and Egypt, expressed confidence in the ceasefire's resilience, warning that any breach could jeopardize the agreement. Netanyahu congratulated Trump, stating that the best days of the U.S.-Israel alliance are yet to come and reaffirmed his commitment to prevent Gaza from posing a threat to Israel.
With fighting paused, humanitarian aid has started flowing into Gaza, with the United Nations reporting the entry of 915 aid trucks, exceeding the daily limit agreed upon in the ceasefire. The initial phase of the ceasefire involves the release of 33 hostages in exchange for 1,900 Palestinians, alongside Israeli troop withdrawals from certain areas of Gaza.
Meanwhile, Israeli security forces, supported by helicopters, conducted a large-scale operation in Jenin, West Bank, resulting in the deaths of at least four Palestinians. Netanyahu described this operation as a significant military effort aimed at eradicating terrorism, following Trump's announcement to lift sanctions on Israeli settlers accused of violence against Palestinian villages.
Hamas, classified as a terrorist organization by several countries including Germany and the U.S., remains a focal point in the ongoing conflict. Netanyahu characterized the operation as part of a broader strategy against Iranian-backed militant groups across the region.