The Israeli military published on Thursday, the 27th of February, its first official account of the mistakes that led to the 7th of October 2023 Hamas attack that triggered the war in Gaza. The report concludes that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) “failed in its mission to protect Israeli civilians” and underestimated Hamas’ capabilities before the attack, according to the BBC and Reuters.
The conclusions state that for years there was a perception that Hamas was not interested in a full-scale conflict and that Israel would have ample warning if this changed, resulting in a lack of preparedness and capability to respond to an attack.
“IT WAS BELIEVED THAT HAMAS COULD BE INFLUENCED BY PRESSURE THAT WOULD REDUCE ITS MOTIVATION FOR WAR, MAINLY BY IMPROVING LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE GAZA STRIP,” THE REPORT SAID.
This 19-page report contains much that is already known about what led to the death of some 1 200 people when some 5 000 fighters from Hamas and other Palestinian groups invaded Israel and took 251 hostages, but it is sobering to see the military’s conclusions, set out in black and white, that it underestimated Hamas’s capabilities.
According to Palestinian health officials, the Israeli assault on Gaza has since killed more than 48 000 people. Much of the enclave has been devastated and most of the territory’s 2.3 million pre-war inhabitants have been repeatedly displaced, according to humanitarian agencies.
Some 400 Israeli soldiers have also been killed. And in two days, the first phase of the ceasefire, which began on the 19th of January, will end.
The military investigation comes at a time when the Israeli opposition and civil society are increasingly calling for a national inquiry into the government’s mistakes on the deadliest day in Israel’s modern history.
The military inquiry found that Israel had concentrated its intelligence and military efforts on other fronts, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran, and relied too much on “intelligence, barriers and defensive measures alone” and was thus caught by surprise.
Military commanders saw no urgent threat before the 7th of October attacks and did not reinforce the border guard force with new troops.
Over time, “a significant and persistent gap had developed between intelligence assessments of Hamas and the reality”.
The report also highlights what it called “a decline in understanding of the enemy’s distinct worldview, including culture, religion, language and history”, as well as calling for a deep reform of the culture of the Intelligence Directorate, “promoting intellectual openness, scepticism, listening, learning, debate and constructive disagreement”.
A statement issued by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office on Thursday said that the military had not provided the Prime Minister with the results of the war inquiry.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has not admitted responsibility for what happened on the 7th of October, has said that such a national inquiry should be carried out after the war is over. His critics accuse Netanyahu of being reluctant to admit any personal guilt.
Presenting the findings to commanders on Monday, outgoing IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi said he took full responsibility for the mistakes made.
“I take responsibility. It is mine. I was the commander of the army on the 7th of October and I have to take my responsibility and I have to take your responsibility. I also take it as mine. And I see that every command I gave that failed, there is a part of me,” he said in the video.