‘I feel personal and moral obligation to ask forgiveness’ - Shin Bet head of southern region resigns over Oct 7 failure

The commander of the southern region of Israel's domestic intelligence service, Shin Bet (ISA), known only by the Hebrew initial Aleph, resigned from his position, Israel's Channel 12 News revealed on Wednesday evening.

The announcement followed the resignation of the head of Military Intelligence in April and other senior officials, including the IDF’s Gaza division commander, over security failures related to the Oct. 7 terror attack by Hamas.

The current head of Shin Bet’s Judea and Samaria operations will reportedly take over Aleph’s position. 

In a small farewell ceremony, Aleph apologized for the serious failures during the Oct. 7 disaster and used his speech to take full responsibility while explaining his decision to leave Shin Bet. 

He began by praising the heroism of those who took action during the Hamas invasion of Israel's southern communities on the morning of the attack.

״In this strikingly difficult period for the people of Israel and for the [ISA] organization,” Aleph said, “I saw people, people who began that accursed Shabbat at the bottom of their personal and professional hell and yet managed to recover, function, and stick to the mission with heroism, daring, creativity – and with a lot of faith along the way.” 

“I feel a personal and moral obligation to ask for forgiveness,” Aleph continued.

“Forgiveness from all those who were murdered, their loved ones, those who fell in battle, those who were kidnapped and returned to their borders, from those who are still in enemy captivity, and from all those who became displaced in their own country.” 

The Shin Bet commander said that forgiveness would help “triumph over darkness.” 

“Your forgiveness will not blunt the failure, but it will help to correct it. At least mine. It will never mend the fragments of a shattered heart, but it will strengthen the light that remains in the heart so that it will triumph over darkness.” 

According to the Times of Israel, several Shin Bet officials directly tied to the failures of Oct. 7 have requested to resign.

In April, Military Intelligence head, Maj.-Gen. Aharon Haliva, informed the IDF chief of staff of his intention to resign and retire from the Israeli military over the serious intelligence failures under his leadership in the Oct. 7 attack. 

In his resignation letter, Haliva wrote, “On Saturday, October 7, 2023, Hamas carried out a surprise murderous attack against the State of Israel, with severe and painful consequences. The Intelligence Directorate under my command did not fulfill its task. I have carried that black day with me ever since, every day, every night. I will forever bear the terrible pain of the war.” 

Haliva also called to establish a commission of inquiry "to investigate and find out in a thorough, in-depth, comprehensive and precise manner all the factors and circumstances that led to the grave events.” Former War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz has also called for the establishment of a commission of inquiry into the Oct. 7 massacre.

On the other hand, security official Brig.-Gen. Yossi Sariel, head of the IDF's signal intelligence Unit 8200, has refused to resign, saying it would demonstrate “cowardice,” according to Channel 12.