Israel army probe reveals ‘complete failure’ in preventing October 7 attack
The Israeli military has admitted to its “complete failure” in preventing the October 7 attack by Hamas, acknowledging that it had underestimated the group’s capabilities for years.
A report published on Thursday outlined that the military failed in its mission to protect Israeli civilians. A senior Israeli army official stated, “October 7 was a complete failure,” adding that many civilians questioned where the IDF was during the attack.
The investigation found that the belief Hamas wasn’t interested in full-scale conflict, combined with an assumption that Israel would receive ample warning before any major attack, led to a lack of preparedness.
The military also focused its efforts on other fronts, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, and relied too heavily on intelligence and defensive barriers, which left Israel unready for the assault.
The attack killed at least 1,139 people in Israel and sparked the ongoing war with Gaza, which has claimed more than 48,000 Palestinian lives. Over 200 people were also taken captive during the attack, and the incident has sparked widespread criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership, with calls for his resignation.
The attack occurred in three waves. In the first wave, more than 1,000 Hamas elite fighters infiltrated Israel, knocking out military communications and creating chaos.
The second wave involved 2,000 fighters, followed by a third wave with additional fighters and civilians. Despite claims by Hamas that only a few hundred fighters were involved, the Israeli army’s probe reported significantly more.
The military has also faced allegations that it may have inadvertently fired upon Israeli civilians during the attack in efforts to prevent Hamas from taking captives.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid has called for Netanyahu to establish an official commission to investigate the attack, praising the military’s self-investigation but urging the government to follow suit and take responsibility.
