Ex-Intelligence Officer Claims Missed Opportunity to Eliminate 150 Hamas Militants

A former civilian intelligence officer, Rafael Hayoun, has revealed details of an incident he claims occurred approximately one hour before a ceasefire took effect in Gaza, about 15 months into the current war. Hayoun stated in an interview that he identified around 150 armed militants traveling in seven pickup trucks in the southern Gaza Strip.

Hayoun reported that he immediately transmitted the footage and intelligence to relevant parties in the Southern Command and other units, highlighting the opportunity to eliminate the militants. "Guys, we have an opportunity here for a huge achievement, to eliminate about 150 terrorists on pickup trucks," he recounted.

According to Hayoun, an aircraft was dispatched to the area, and he received confirmation footage, with operators stating, "Rafael, we have them." However, with less than 40 minutes remaining until the ceasefire, Hayoun claims an order was given to switch the surveillance aircraft.

Hayoun alleges that the strike was eventually carried out, but the first missile missed its target, causing the militants to scatter. He stated that a second missile hit a vehicle that was already empty. Hayoun asserted that a subsequent IDF spokesperson's announcement about striking militants in pickup trucks referred to the same target he had identified, adding, "Unfortunately, no one was eliminated there."