Gaza Division Intelligence Officer from Oct. 7 to be Dismissed from IDF

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Thursday the final dismissal of Lieutenant Colonel A., who served as the intelligence officer for the Gaza Division on October 7. The head of the Manpower Directorate decided to terminate the officer's service commitment following an administrative process that concluded in recent months. This process was initiated based on a November 2025 directive from the IDF Chief of Staff, who identified several senior commanders as bearing command responsibility for the October 7 events and mandated disciplinary action. Lt. Col. A. was among these commanders due to his role before and during the Hamas attack.

According to the IDF spokesperson, the review examined the opinion of the Deputy Chief of Staff, findings from investigations, and professional assessments of the officer's performance failures leading up to October 7. The officer's arguments regarding his level of responsibility, both oral and written, were also considered. The dismissal process was delayed for several months, partly due to a petition filed by the officer with the court in March, which temporarily halted the committee reviewing his service termination.

In late June, the court rejected the officer's claims, ruling that the dismissal process, stemming from the Deputy Chief of Staff's assessment of professional errors, malfunctions, and command responsibility, was lawful and within authority. The court also affirmed the IDF's authority to initiate service termination for an officer due to professional and command failures, and that the officer's right to be heard was not compromised.

Following the court's decision, the process resumed. The advisory committee completed its work and submitted its recommendations to the head of the Manpower Directorate. After reviewing these recommendations, the directorate head decided to terminate Lt. Col. A.'s service commitment. The officer has been informed of the decision and has the right to appeal to the Chief of Staff.