A former commando, Hagari became a household name after the war with Hamas erupted in October 2023, briefing the media and the general public almost daily -- sometimes several times a day.

An army statement said Hagari served as spokesman "in a professional and devoted manner" during "one of the most complex wars in Israel's history".

It added that Hagari's resignation, days after a new military chief was sworn it, has been approved by the new top commander, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir.

According to the statement, Hagari, 49, will step down "in the coming weeks", though no exact date was given.

In a televised briefing on October 9, 2023 -- two days after the Hamas attack on Israel that triggered the Gaza war -- Hagari, clad in khaki, said: "These are difficult days for everyone."

"One thing must be remembered: we will win."

Since then, he has had a constant presence in the media, briefing journalists on Israeli soil and during embeds with troops inside the Gaza Strip.

His televised briefings, which usually included questions from reporters, were often scrutinised at home and abroad, in a war where information and narrative rivalled military action in importance.

In the early months of the conflict, Hagari's media strategy earned him high public trust in Israel, with many viewing him as the most reliable source of war updates.

He has shown maps, satellite images, audio clips and videos that illustrated the war effort and helped support the argument that Hamas militants were using hospitals as command centres -- an assertion central to Israel's case but firmly denied by the Palestinian group.

Many international media outlets have questioned the credibility of the military's evidence.

During Iran's first direct attack on Israel in April 2024, Hagari was on television almost hourly, providing real-time updates on the military's response.

Before becoming the military's chief spokesman, Hagari led the elite Shayetet 13 naval special forces, renowned for counterterrorism and sabotage operations.