Israeli Military Admits Errors in Response to Hamas Attack

The Israeli military has acknowledged a series of mistakes during Hamas’ assault on 7 October that sparked the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The army confirmed slow response times and disorganization as it released findings from its initial investigation into the failures during the attack.

The focus of the report was on the border community of Be’eri, one of the hardest-hit areas during the early morning assault, where more than 100 people were killed and over 30 others were taken hostage by Hamas.

According to Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the military’s chief spokesman, “The army failed in its mission to protect the residents of Kibbutz Be’eri. It is painful and difficult for me to say that.”

During the incident, a tank fired at a residence, leading to concerns that 13 hostages inside were killed by friendly fire. The military’s investigation suggested that the hostages were likely slain by Hamas militants, not Israeli shelling, although further verification was recommended. The army estimated that approximately 340 Hamas fighters overran the kibbutz.

The report indicated that there were delays of several hours in the arrival of military forces and that troops remained outside the kibbutz into the afternoon while residents were being attacked, failing to grasp the severity of the situation.

The army praised the bravery of the Be’eri residents and the kibbutz’s civilian rapid response team for their critical role in stabilizing the defense during the initial combat hours.

Following the attack, the head of military intelligence resigned, and several other commanders apologized and accepted responsibility for their shortcomings. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected calls for an official state investigation, despite facing war crimes and genocide allegations in international courts as the conflict continues.

Military Officials Resigned after Attack

• The surprise cross-border raid led to the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the capture of 250 others, marking the deadliest assault in Israel’s history.
• The attack exposed significant deficiencies in the military’s preparedness, intelligence assessments, and governmental policies toward Gaza.
• Israel’s subsequent offensive in response to the assault resulted in the deaths of over 38,000 Palestinians, displacement of more than 80% of the population, and a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
• The army initiated multiple investigations into the failures of 7 October, with repercussions including resignations and apologies from military officials.