A top Israeli military intelligence chief announced his resignation on Thursday for failing to protect against Hamas’ brutal attack on October 7.

“The responsibility for 8200’s part in the intelligence and operational failure rests entirely with me,” wrote IDF Brig.-Gen. Yossi Sariel, commander of the army’s Intelligence Unit 8200. “I failed to understand the need and therefore did not adequately reflect the requirements of the unique reality at the Gaza border.”

Multiple damning reports allege that the IDF received detailed briefings back in 2022 on findings that pointed to a large-scale attack by Hamas. However, Israeli intelligence failed to act on this information, nor did they heed warning signs that emerged in weeks and hours before the attack.

According to Channel 12 News, IDF observers witnessed a large-scale Hamas military drill on October 3 simulating the very rocket strikes and infiltration raids that would ultimately devastate Israeli civilians and take hostages four days later. However, these ominous training exercises involving some 170 terrorists were simply waved off by security sources as “just another exercise” routinely conducted by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

On the morning of Oct. 7, IDF intelligence monitors detected Israeli SIM cards activated by Hamas, leading to a situation assessment call with the military chief of staff. Acting Chief of the Military Intelligence Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva did not participate in the call as he was still on vacation in Eilat at the time. Like Sariel, Haliva chose to accept responsibility for his failures and resigned earlier this year.

Sariel’s resignation is expected to heighten pressure on other senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose support has plummeted amid anger that he failed to prevent the massacre. Analysts expect there eventually to be a formal, independent investigation similar to the 9/11 Commission in the United States after the Sept. 11 attacks.