Security Warning From Gaza Reached Border Communities Too Late, Army Probe Underway

Israeli security officials say a recent unusual Hamas activity in Gaza was not passed in time to security coordinators in the communities near the border, despite lessons from October 7. The warning also reached the Air Force only hours after the information was already in the hands of the IDF.

According to the report, the unusual activity was detected one night recently and raised concern about a possible security incident. Still, the communities in the Gaza envelope were not informed in real time, and the local security officers who needed the information were not told that the alert level had been raised.

Only after warning shots were heard did the shocked security officers contact the Gaza Division to ask what had happened. They were told it was “normal fire,” and even then they were not informed that this was an unusual event that could affect the nearby communities. Sources familiar with the details said the alert to the Air Force, which is responsible for the initial response in such incidents, was also delayed by hours.

Southern Command officials say the delay originated in Military Intelligence, Aman, and the matter is now under investigation. Local security officials were sharply critical, with one saying, “They learned nothing from October 7. They are confusing us בדיוק כמו אז,” adding, “There is no such thing anymore as normal fire. Not in Hamas drills and not when there is an alert.” The IDF said that after unusual activity by several Hamas operatives was identified, an alert was raised and all necessary steps were taken in a strict manner, with October 7 lessons applied.