Women are mourning for those killed and accused in a cross-border attack by Hamas militants near Kibbuturim in southern Israel on May 13, 2024.
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Leo Correa/AP
TEL AVIV – Israeli forces have said that the “glare” intelligence report failed, Hamas-led militants attacked the country, killing nearly 1,200 people, taking 251 hostages, and saying that they cannot protect Israeli citizens, according to official reports on Israel’s response to the attack.
According to an English summary of the findings provided to NPR provided by the military, the survey is not fully published – detailing Hamas’ decades of “fundamental misconceptions.” This has allowed Israeli senior officials to underestimate the capabilities and intentions of the extremist groups leading up to the attack.
The military, according to the summary, operated with an approach that “based on the (false) assumption that Hamas is not interested in or prepared for a large-scale war.” Israeli intelligence agency said it believes the group is more interested in managing Gaza, which seized control from Palestinian authorities in 2007 than fighting Israel.
“In hindsight, Hamas systematically adopted this perception tactic that reinforced this perception. Looking back, this was a serious mistake,” it said.
The report is the first official statement of mistakes ahead of the 2023 attack, and launched Israel’s subsequent war against Hamas in Gaza, which killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, the most deadly in Israeli history. Israeli military officials said they spent thousands of hours examining the military’s intelligence report and its response.
There has been confusion and rage among the Israelis since the attack, many of whom felt the military’s response times were slow and unorganized, and some victims said they had waited hours for the soldiers to arrive.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has not commented on the military investigation and findings. During the war, Netanyahu refused to take responsibility for the attack on October 7th, saying that he would only answer questions about it once the war ended. The war is currently suspended as part of a fragile six-week ceasefire agreement that has not yet been extended.
A recent poll shows that many Israelis have denounced Netanyahu’s mistakes on October 7th, with the majority hoping for a wider government investigation. Netanyahu resisted the formation of an investigation committee.
Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said he was responsible for the Army’s failures.
“I am the commander of the military on October 7th and I am responsible for myself. I also have all your responsibility. Halevi is scheduled to resign next week after announcing his resignation in January.
The release of this report will conclude a three-phase ceasefire on Saturday, with negotiations underway in the second phase, which will end the three-phase ceasefire. American and Israeli negotiators are in Cairo for talks.
Daniel Estlin contributed to this report from Tel Aviv. Janaru Jabalin contributed from Jerusalem.
