Israeli military intelligence chief resigns over failure to prevent October 7 attack
Tel Aviv (AP): The head of Israel's military intelligence directorate resigned on Monday over the failures surrounding Hamas' unprecedented October 7 attack, the military said, becoming the first senior figure to step down over his role in the deadliest assault in Israel's history.
Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva's resignation sets the stage for what's expected to be more fallout from Israel's top security brass over Hamas' attack that killed 1,200 people, most civilians, while taking roughly 250 hostages into Gaza. That attack set off the war against Hamas in Gaza, now in its seventh month.
The military said in a statement that Haliva had asked to end his service “following his leadership responsibility.” Shortly after the war, Haliva had publicly said that he shouldered blame for not preventing the assault as the head of the military department responsible for providing the government and the military with intelligence warnings and daily alerts.
The military said in the statement that the military chief of staff accepted Haliva's request to resign and thanked him for his service.
Haliva, as well as other military and security leaders, were widely expected to resign in response to the glaring failures that led up to October 7 and those that made it such a devastating attack.
But the timing of the resignations is unclear, because Israel is still fighting Hamas in Gaza and battling the Lebanese group Hezbollah in the north. Tensions with Iran are also at a high following attacks between the two enemies.
While Haliva and others have accepted blame for failing to stop the attack, others have stopped short, most notably Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has said he will answer tough questions about his role but has not outright acknowledged any responsibility for allowing the attack to unfold.
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Justin Trudeau faces backlash for dancing at Taylor Swift concert amid Montreal protests
Ottawa: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has come under criticism after a video of him dancing at a Taylor Swift concert in Toronto went viral, coinciding with violent protests in Montreal.
The footage, shared widely on social media, shows Trudeau enjoying the performance at the Rogers Centre on November 23. While the concert featured hits like "You Don’t Own Me," Montreal witnessed unrest as anti-NATO demonstrators clashed with police, set vehicles on fire, and burned an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Social media users criticised Trudeau’s presence at the concert during the crisis, with some comparing his actions to Nero’s alleged indifference during Rome's burning.
The Montreal protests occurred during the ongoing NATO summit in the city, which focused on issues such as Ukraine and climate change. Demonstrators carried Palestinian flags and set off smoke bombs, with at least four arrests reported.
As violent protests broke out in #Montreal, #Canadian Prime Minister #JustinTrudeau was filmed dancing at a #TaylorSwift concert in #Toronto
— Hindustan Times (@htTweets) November 24, 2024
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