Security officials in communities near the Gaza border say they were not informed in real time about recent unusual Hamas activity in the Strip, even though it raised concern about a possible security incident. The same warning also reached the Air Force only hours after the IDF had already received the information.
According to the report, the unusual activity was detected one night recently. Despite the alert, local security officers in the affected communities were not told that the threat level had been raised. After warning shots were heard, the officers contacted the Gaza Division to ask what was happening, and were told it was “standard fire.” They were still not told that the incident was unusual and could affect the nearby communities.
People familiar with the details said the warning was also delayed for the Air Force, which is responsible for the initial response to such events, with several hours passing between the moment the IDF had the information and when it reached the relevant Air Force personnel. Southern Command officials say the delay was caused by Military Intelligence, Aman, and the episode is being investigated.
Security officials in the border communities reacted sharply. One said, “They learned nothing from October 7. They are confusing us just like then.” He added, “There is no such thing as standard fire anymore, not in Hamas drills and not when there is a warning,” arguing that any decision to scramble forces should have triggered immediate notice to community security chiefs so they could prepare the local rapid response teams. The IDF said that recently unusual activity was identified among several Hamas operatives, a warning was issued, and all necessary steps were taken “with a strict view and while implementing the lessons of October 7.”
