Source Credit: AL JAZEERA
Jerusalem: The Israeli army has admitted to a "complete failure" in preventing the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, acknowledging that it underestimated Hamas’s capabilities for years.
According to a military investigation report released on February 28, 2025, Israeli intelligence had wrongly assumed Hamas was not interested in a full-scale conflict and that any attack would come with advance warning. This led to a lack of military preparedness, leaving Israel vulnerable when the attack happened.
On Oct 7 2023, more than 5,000 Hamas fighters and civilians entered Israel in three waves. The first wave involved over 1,000 elite Nukhba fighters, who infiltrated under the cover of heavy fire, destroying Israeli military communication systems and command centers. This created widespread chaos, making it difficult for the army to coordinate a response. The second wave saw 2,000 more fighters joining the attack, followed by a third wave of additional fighters and civilians. In total, the attack resulted in the deaths of about 1,139 people in Israel, with over 200 hostages taken.
The investigation was based on findings from the Israeli army and intelligence sources. A senior military official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that the army had failed in its duty to protect civilians.
Since the attack, Israel launched a war on Gaza, which has resulted in more than 48,000 Palestinian deaths. The failures of October 7 have led to major resignations, including Israel’s spy chief, Aharon Haliva, in 2024, and top general Herzi Halevi in January 2025. The head of Israel’s southern command, Yaron Finkelman, also resigned.
The background of this failure lies in Israel’s overreliance on intelligence, security barriers, and defensive measures rather than preparing for a direct attack. The military had shifted its focus to other threats, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, while assuming Hamas was not a major risk.
