Israel's top general resigned on Tuesday, citing security and intelligence lapses caused by a surprise Hamas attack that sparked the war in the Gaza Strip. Israel simultaneously launched a massive operation in the occupied West Bank, killing at least six people, according to Palestinian officials.

Lieutenant General Hertz Halevi is the most senior Israeli figure to resign over the security collapse on October 7, 2023, when thousands of Hamas-led militants launched a rampage of land, sea and air attacks across southern Israel. Military bases and military bases. Communities nearby hours.

The attack killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the militants abducted another 250 people. More than 90 prisoners are still being held in Gaza, about one-third of whom are believed to be dead.

Halewi's resignation comes just days after a fragile ceasefire with Hamas was agreed that could lead to the end of the war and the return of remaining prisoners. Maj. Gen. Aaron Finkelman, commander of Israel's Southern Command, which oversees operations in Gaza, also resigned.

The resignations of two top generals are likely to increase calls for a public inquiry into the Oct. 7 failure, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose leadership may have been implicated, saying an inquiry must wait until the end of the war.

Halevi also appeared to be at odds with Israel's new defense minister, Israel Katz, over the direction of the war, with Halevi saying Israel had achieved most of its goals, while Katz echoed Netanyahu's vow to keep fighting, Until the "complete victory" over Hamas.

In his resignation letter, Halevi said the troops under his command "failed to fulfill their mission to defend the State of Israel" when Hamas launched the attack, but made "significant achievements" in the subsequent war that spread across the Middle East.

Halevi, who will serve a three-year term starting in January 2023, said his resignation will be effective March 6.

Meanwhile, Israel announced a "major and widespread military operation" against Palestinian militants in Jenin. In recent years, even before the war in Gaza, the city has been the scene of numerous Israeli incursions and gun battles with militants.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said at least six people were killed and 35 injured. It does not distinguish between militants and civilians in its statistics.

In the 1967 Middle East War, Israel occupied the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem. The Palestinians seek an independent state covering all three territories.

The ceasefire with Hamas does not apply to the West Bank, where violence has surged since the war began. Israeli forces carry out almost daily attacks, often triggering gun battles.

There has also been an increase in attacks by Jewish extremists against Palestinians - including attacks on two Palestinian villages on Monday night - and by Palestinians against Israelis.

Hamas condemned Israeli actions in Jenin and called on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank to step up attacks.

The smaller, more radical Islamic Jihad militant group also condemned the operation, saying it reflected Israel's "failure to achieve its goals in Gaza." According to reports, this is also a "desperate attempt" by Netanyahu to save his ruling coalition.

Netanyahu has been criticized by far-right allies for a ceasefire that calls for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from densely populated areas of Gaza and plans to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including those convicted of taking part in deadly attacks on Israelis of militants.

The ceasefire is expected to last six weeks and involves the release of 33 hostages held by militants in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Three hostages and 90 prisoners were released after it took effect on Sunday.

The truce has put Hamas back on the streets, a sign that it still has a firm grip on the region despite 15 months of war that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and caused widespread destruction.

One of Netanyahu's erstwhile partners, Itamar Bengvir, quit the government on the day the ceasefire came into effect, weakening the coalition but Netanyahu still holds a parliamentary majority. Another far-right leader, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, has threatened to withdraw if Israel does not resume the war after six weeks of the first phase of the ceasefire.

Israeli military operations have killed more than 47,000 Palestinians in Gaza, more than half of them women and children, according to local health authorities, who did not disclose how many of the dead were fighters. Israel says it has killed more than 17,000 militants but has provided no evidence.