Police Report on October 7 Reveals 35 Combat Zones, 1,500 Officers, and Inter-Agency Coordination Failures
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS by baba
A three-year police investigation into the October 7 attacks has concluded, revealing 1,500 officers fought in 35 combat zones and highlighting severe coordination failures between security agencies. The report documented extensive heroism, with 58 officers killed, and identified the Southern District Commander, Amir Cohen, as issuing the "Parash Pleshet" order. A key recommendation calls for the National Security Council to lead future joint investigations to improve inter-agency communication.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Police investigation reveals 1,500 officers fought in 35 combat zones during October 7 attacks.
- Report highlights significant coordination failures between police, Shin Bet, and IDF.
- 58 police officers were killed in action during the initial 24-hour period.
- Southern District Commander Amir Cohen is identified as issuing the "Parash Pleshet" order.
- A key recommendation calls for joint investigations to improve inter-agency communication.
A comprehensive police investigation into the events of October 7, three years after the Hamas attacks, has revealed that 1,500 officers fought across 35 different combat zones during the initial 24-hour period. The report, published by i24NEWS, highlights significant coordination failures between Israel's security agencies, including the police, Shin Bet, and the IDF.
The investigation, initiated by the Police Commissioner upon taking office, commenced relatively late but was thorough, lasting approximately 18 months and involving over a thousand officers. It documented 35 distinct combat zones, with the last one identified based on accounts from field operatives. The extensive inquiry collected over 100,000 photographic and written materials and recorded around 500 testimonies, resulting in 800 conclusions and 500 lessons learned.
Around 1,500 police officers, many not on duty at the time, were engaged in combat, with 58 losing their lives. Elite units such as YAMAM, YAMAS, YASAM, and Unit 33 were deployed in multiple locations, continuing operations into the following day in at least two instances.
A key point of contention within the investigation involved the declaration of the "Parash Pleshet" (Philistine's Retreat) order. The report definitively states that the then-Commander of the Southern District, Amir Cohen, issued this order at 6:41 AM. A four-minute delay occurred between the order and its execution due to air raid sirens forcing control room personnel to take shelter. A senior official involved in the investigation told i24NEWS that this delay was not significant and the order, backed by real-time recordings, saved lives.
Despite the heroism documented, the report underscores critical weaknesses, most notably the lack of real-time communication capabilities between the police, Shin Bet, and the IDF, a problem that persists even three years later. The central recommendation is for the National Security Council to lead a joint investigation to ensure proper response and communication in future emergencies. The findings have been presented to the families of fallen soldiers and officers, and will subsequently be made public.
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