IDF Dismisses Gaza Division Intelligence Chief Over October 7 Failures

The head of the IDF's Manpower Directorate has ordered the dismissal of Lieutenant Colonel A., the intelligence chief for the Gaza Division on October 7, 2023. The decision follows a months-long legal battle where the officer attempted to contest his removal from service. The IDF's Chief of Staff had previously identified Lt. Col. A. as directly responsible for failures leading up to the Hamas attack.

Reports indicate Lt. Col. A. was aware of Hamas's "Jericho Wall" attack plan but dismissed warnings from an experienced Unit 8200 intelligence soldier, calling a border breach scenario "completely fantastic." On the night before the attack, despite alarming border signs and consultations, he reportedly arrived at the Re'im base without his personal weapon and went to sleep without raising the alert level.

The dismissal process began after a November 23, 2025, decision by the Chief of Staff holding several senior commanders accountable for the October 7 events. However, the review board meeting was repeatedly postponed due to the officer's objections and requests. In March, he petitioned the court to prevent the board from convening, leading to a temporary injunction on its proceedings.

On June 30, 2026, the court ruled that the dismissal procedure, initiated based on the Deputy Chief of Staff's assessment of professional errors and command responsibility, was lawful. The court rejected Lt. Col. A.'s arguments, affirming the IDF's authority to dismiss officers for such failures and confirming his right to present his case was not violated.

Following the court's decision and the review board's recommendations, the head of the Manpower Directorate finalized the dismissal. Lt. Col. A. retains the right to appeal this decision to the IDF Chief of Staff.