The decision was announced two weeks after Army Commander Eyal Zamir requested a ‘systemic investigation’ into the failures that allowed Hamas to act.
The Army announced the dismissal of three generals and the imposition of disciplinary sanctions against other high-ranking officers for their failure to prevent the attacks on October 7, 2023, the most violent in the country’s history. The decision was announced two weeks after Army Commander Eyal Zamir requested a “systemic investigation” into the failures that allowed the attack by Islamist fighters in the south of the country, which left 1,121 people dead.
The three dismissed generals are Aharon Haliva, who was head of military intelligence, Oded Basyuk, who was operations commander, and Yaron Finkelman, who that day had just taken command of Israel’s southern military region.
Haliva and Finkelman had already resigned, taking responsibility for the October 7 tragedy, while Basyuk retired after the 12-day war launched by Israel against Iran in June this year. The Army’s statement states that the three are personally responsible for the military institution’s failure to predict and prevent the bloody attack carried out by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas from the Gaza Strip.
Sanctions were also announced against the commanders of the Navy and Air Force, in addition to disciplinary measures against four other generals and several high-ranking officers. Now it remains to be seen whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can also be held responsible for the failure to prevent the attacks.
Over the past two years, Netanyahu has reiterated that the failures that led to the attack should be examined only after the war in Gaza. According to polls, the majority of Israelis, from different political sectors, support the creation of a commission to determine responsibilities. The Hamas attack triggered a devastating war in Gaza, which left at least 69,756 people dead, according to figures from the Palestinian territory’s Ministry of Health, which the UN considers reliable.
With the restrictions imposed on the press by Israel, which maintains a siege on Gaza, and the difficulties in accessing the site, the AFP is unable to independently verify the numbers and allegations made by the different parties.
Military investigation
Earlier this month, a committee of experts appointed by Eyal Zamir published a report, which marked the end of the Army’s internal investigations into the deficiencies that led to the October 7 attack. The document highlights a “long-standing systemic and organizational deficiency” within the military apparatus.
The investigation also highlighted an “intelligence failure” and the “inability to issue a warning” about the attacks, even when the Army had “exceptional, high-quality information.” The report also criticizes the “deficient decision-making processes” and the “inadequate mobilization of forces during the night of October 7, 2023”, as well as failures throughout the military chain of command.
Currently, Israel and Hamas are exchanging accusations about violations of the truce that came into force on October 10, after two years of war. Hamas reported on Monday that a “high-level” delegation is in Cairo for meetings on the second phase of the ceasefire.
*With information from AFP
