Israel’s military announced the dismissal of three generals and disciplinary measures against several senior officers for failing to prevent the October 2023 Hamas attack, the deadliest in the country’s history.
The decision comes two weeks after Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir called for a “systemic investigation” into the failures that enabled the assault. The government has yet to establish a state commission of inquiry, despite growing public pressure.
The dismissed officers include three divisional commanders, one of whom served as military intelligence chief. A military statement on Sunday said the generals bore personal responsibility for the armed forces’ failure to stop the attack, which originated from the Gaza Strip.
All three had already resigned from their posts, including former head of the southern command General Yaron Finkelman. Disciplinary actions were also announced for the heads of the navy and air force, along with four other generals and several senior officers.
It remains unclear whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could be held accountable for the failures. Netanyahu has repeatedly stated that investigations should be conducted after the Gaza war concludes, a stance that has frustrated many Israelis. Polls indicate strong public support for a formal inquiry, which the government has so far refused to establish.
The October 2023 Hamas attack killed 1,221 Israelis and triggered a devastating two-year conflict in Gaza. Israel’s retaliatory strikes have reportedly killed at least 69,756 Palestinians, according to figures from the health ministry considered reliable by the UN.
Military investigation
Earlier this month, a committee of experts appointed by Zamir published a report concluding that the military suffered a “long-standing systemic and organisational failure” leading up to and during the October 7 attack.
Defence Minister Israel Katz has tasked the defence establishment’s comptroller, Yair Wolansky, with reviewing the report to determine if further investigations are needed. Following the announcement, the military, speaking on behalf of Zamir, said: “The IDF is the only body in the country that has thoroughly investigated its own failures and taken responsibility for them. Any further examination must be conducted through an external, objective, and independent commission.”
Israeli media noted that the statement highlighted growing friction between Zamir and Katz, who have previously disagreed over the prosecution of the war against Hamas.
Tensions in Gaza
On Monday, the Israeli military reported that troops had shot three militants who crossed the so-called Yellow Line, a boundary established under last month’s ceasefire. Two of the individuals were killed near Khan Yunis, according to Gaza’s civil defence agency, which also confirmed two other deaths from a drone strike. Three Palestinians were injured, including one in critical condition.
In Gaza City, tank fire killed another individual, with several others wounded. Hamas has accused Israel of shifting the Yellow Line further into territory it controls, calling it a ceasefire violation.
Hamas said a high-level delegation has been in Cairo for the past two days, meeting mediators to negotiate the second phase of the US-brokered truce that began on October 10.
AFP
