IDF Chief of Staff Admits Military Failed to Protect Civilians on Oct. 7

Israel is marking three years since the October 7th Hamas terror attack and massacre. In a special order of the day to soldiers and commanders, Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir acknowledged the military's failure to fulfill its primary mission of protecting Israeli citizens during the brutal breach of the border on Simchat Torah.

Zamir stated, "The IDF failed in its supreme mission to protect the citizens of the State of Israel." He added that the nation is mourning the victims, hostages, and fallen soldiers. "It is our duty to investigate to be worthy of trust," he wrote, detailing the horrors of the attack alongside the heroism of soldiers and civilians who defended their homes.

The Chief of Staff emphasized the military's commitment to learning lessons and strengthening its forces. "It is our duty to investigate and ensure that the lessons are implemented to be more worthy of the trust the people have placed in us," he said. He also outlined the ongoing fight and the need for deterrence, vowing, "We will not allow our enemies to strengthen unimpeded, we will identify threats as they emerge and strike them with determination and power. We will ensure that this people who returned to their land will never be uprooted from it again."

Commemorative events also began at the Knesset in Jerusalem, where national flags were lowered to half-mast in the presence of Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, Director-General Moshe (Chico) Edri, and Knesset Officer Yuval Chen, accompanied by the honor guard of Knesset guards.