Gaza Division Intel Officer on Oct. 7 Called Hamas Raid Plan 'Completely Imaginary'

The censor has cleared the publication of the identity of the Gaza Division's intelligence officer on the morning of the October 7 Hamas attack: Lt. Col. Arieh Amidor. Amidor, son of retired Major General Yaakov Amidor, a former National Security Advisor and senior intelligence official, was previously barred from identification due to security concerns. His name can now be revealed due to the absence of security impediments and significant public interest in his role prior to the attack.

Amidor was central to discussions regarding intelligence failures preceding October 7, particularly concerning Hamas's "Jericho Wall" raid plan. This plan, obtained by Israeli intelligence well before the war, detailed a large-scale assault on Gaza border communities and IDF positions. An updated version in May 2022 included plans for incursions into Israel and significant damage to the Gaza Division.

Despite warnings in 2023 from a sergeant in Unit 8200, who identified Hamas training matching the plan and stated it was no longer theoretical, the division maintained that such a large-scale raid was improbable. In a post-war revealed correspondence, the division's intelligence officer described it as a "completely imaginary scenario." Further warnings about unusual Hamas activity did not alter the assessment.

Key elements of the "Jericho Wall" plan were realized on October 7. Post-war investigations identified the handling of this document as a major intelligence failure. The IDF determined Amidor bore command and professional responsibility for the pre-attack failures, leading to the termination of his service.

The public aspect of revealing Amidor's identity is amplified by his father, Yaakov Amidor, a former National Security Advisor who has frequently appeared in media since the war's outbreak. Yaakov Amidor has opposed a state inquiry commission, favoring alternative review models. Public criticism arose regarding the family connection not being disclosed when he commented on the inquiry into the failures. Yaakov Amidor was also previously considered for a government inquiry committee on October 7.