Israel Lacks Unified Emergency Communication System Three Years After October 7
Translated & summarized from Israel Hayom by baba
Three years after the October 7th attacks, Israel still lacks a unified emergency communication system between the police and the IDF, despite repeated warnings and a directive from the Prime Minister. A proposed 400 million shekel budget for this critical infrastructure was removed from the 2024 budget, leaving emergency responders vulnerable.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israel lacks a unified emergency communication system between police and IDF.
- The communication gap was a major issue during the October 7th attacks.
- A 400 million shekel budget for a unified system was removed from the 2024 budget.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu ordered the issue addressed, but it remains unresolved.
- Experts warn the lack of communication risks future casualties and failures.
Three years after the October 7th massacre, a critical gap in emergency communication between the Israel Police and the IDF remains unaddressed, risking future failures. A former senior police officer highlighted the lack of a unified communication system as a major deficiency identified immediately after the war's first week. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was briefed on this issue in November 2023 and instructed his Chief of Staff, Tzachi Braverman, to prioritize it. However, a proposed budget of approximately 400 million shekels for unifying these systems was omitted from the 2024 budget revisions.
During the October 7th attacks, police officers on the front lines reportedly had to communicate with IDF forces via WhatsApp. Recordings from the day reveal desperate calls for air rescue from police officers facing casualties, with the Southern District control center struggling to relay information to IDF Unit 669 due to communication difficulties. Police commanders fighting in 35 simultaneous combat zones could not directly communicate with surrounding IDF units, leading to dangerous situations like a police officer sending his location via WhatsApp to a helicopter pilot and confusion over IDF troop presence in adjacent alleys.
In Sderot, a Southern District operations officer, Dudu Levy, took initiative to prevent friendly fire incidents by relaying information to the army. The lack of real-time operational situational awareness meant police forces were unaware of the fall of forward positions or the capture of the Gaza Division. Despite the bravery of police officers who fought with limited information and resources, the communication disconnect was a significant impediment.
Even security officers in border communities often carry both police and military radios, but direct operational communication between police stations and IDF units relies on the availability of dispatchers or personal contacts. A senior officer involved in police investigations emphasized that a unified national emergency communication network is crucial not only for police-IDF coordination but also for interactions with other emergency services like the Fire and Rescue Authority and Magen David Adom. This failure has led to casualties among rescue personnel who entered areas without real-time threat assessments.
While the National Police and emergency services use the national "Nitzan" network, the IDF operates a decentralized and classified system. Despite plans and budget allocations, the estimated 400 million shekel project to create a "technological bridge" for emergencies was removed from the budget at the last minute. This critical communication gap persists, three years after the war began, with experts like Itzik Ronen, CEO of the "HaBithonim" movement, calling the situation an "absurdity" that requires immediate attention without waiting for official investigations.