Israel Admits “Complete Failure” in Preventing October 7 Hamas Attack

The Israeli army has acknowledged its “complete failure” to prevent the October 7 attack by Hamas, admitting in a newly released report that it significantly underestimated the Palestinian group’s capabilities for years, Al Jazeera reports.

The internal investigation, the summary of which was published Thursday, states that the army “failed in its mission to protect Israeli civilians.”

The probe attributes the security lapse to a long-standing perception that Hamas was not interested in a full-scale conflict and that Israel would have ample warning in the event of an attack. This unchallenged assumption led to a critical lack of preparedness and an inability to effectively respond when the assault occurred.

Furthermore, the investigation found that Israel had disproportionately focused its intelligence and military resources on other threats, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon. The army relied too heavily “on intelligence, barriers, and defensive measures alone,” leaving it vulnerable to surprise.

The October 7 attack resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,139 people in Israel and triggered the ongoing war in Gaza, which has claimed the lives of over 48,000 Palestinians. The events have raised serious questions about the Netanyahu administration and the army’s handling of the attack, and led to widespread calls for Netanyahu’s resignation.

In the wake of the attack, more than 200 people were taken captive. The incident previously led to the resignation of Israel’s spy chief Aharon Haliva in 2024. In January, Israel’s top general Herzi Halevi also resigned, citing “terrible” security and intelligence “failures” that led to the attack. The army’s southern command, Yaron Finkelman, also resigned.

The army’s probe concluded that the Hamas attack unfolded in three distinct waves. At its peak, the incursion involved more than 5,000 fighters and civilians entering Israel.

According to the report, the initial wave saw over 1,000 Nukhba fighters, the elite force of Hamas, “infiltrate” Israel under the cover of heavy fire. These fighters are believed to have been responsible for disabling the Israeli military’s communication system and command-and-control centers, causing widespread chaos and hindering the army’s ability to regain control. The second wave reportedly involved around 2,000 additional fighters, while the third saw hundreds more join the incursion, along with several thousand civilians. Hamas, however, maintains that only a few hundred of its fighters participated in the attack.

Adding to the controversy, an earlier investigation by Israeli media outlet Haaretz suggested that Israeli military forces may have inadvertently killed Israeli civilians during the Hamas attack in an attempt to prevent Palestinian fighters from taking hostages.

In response to the release of the army’s inquiry, opposition leader Yair Lapid reiterated his demand for Netanyahu to establish an official commission to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack.