FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE – Ronen Bar, head of Israel’s Shin Bet security service, announced Monday that he will step down in June, citing responsibility for the agency’s failure to prevent the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.
The attack resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis, many of them civilians, and the abduction of about 250 people to Gaza.
Bar’s resignation follows a contentious period during which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attempted to dismiss him, a move blocked by the Israeli Supreme Court. The Shin Bet, tasked with monitoring groups like Hamas, admitted shortcomings in providing early warnings about the attack.
Bar emphasized the importance of accountability and the need for the Shin Bet to maintain its independence and effectiveness in safeguarding Israeli security. His resignation marks a significant moment in the ongoing fallout from the October 7 attack.