Ex-PM Aide Details Failures Leading to October 7th

Three years after the October 7th Hamas attack, Israel has yet to conduct a thorough investigation or implement significant changes to its decision-making processes, according to former military secretary to the Prime Minister, Major General (res.) Avi Gil. In an interview, Gil described the period leading up to the massacre as a "tragic, frustrating chronicle" and warned that the "DNA of work processes and decision-making remains as it was," potentially leading to a repeat of the disaster.

Gil asserted that any genuine investigation would assign responsibility to the security establishment, including the IDF and Shin Bet. He revealed that warnings about Hamas and proposals to eliminate its operatives were indeed given and repeatedly rejected. Gil also highlighted concerns about the erosion of deterrence, particularly in the northern arena, and the detrimental impact of legislative efforts on military readiness. He stated that Prime Minister Netanyahu was aware of these issues in real-time, but the information provided to the State Comptroller was incomplete.

Furthermore, Gil alleged that meeting minutes were falsified, at least in one instance by Chief of Staff Tzachi Braverman, despite his knowledge that it was illegal. While Netanyahu correctly stated there was no specific warning of the October 7th attack, Gil argued that the disaster could have been averted if Netanyahu had acted on the information he received. Gil recounted Netanyahu's refusal to meet with heads of all security organizations simultaneously, opting instead for separate meetings, and his inaction even after receiving a war warning from Shin Bet head Ronen Bar.

Gil also discussed the complexities of hostage negotiations, noting that while Hamas obstructed deals, Israel also missed opportunities. He cited an instance where political pressure from Minister Bezalel Smotrich allegedly prevented a deal from reaching the cabinet. Gil described a decision-making triangle in Israel influenced by national interests, political interests, and personal interests, leaving it to citizens to judge Netanyahu's motivations.

The article also touches on the recent controversy surrounding comments by US official Brett McGurk, which some in Israel interpreted as exonerating Netanyahu. It criticizes the government's handling of the Flydubai incident, suggesting a pattern of avoiding genuine investigations and accountability, similar to the pre-October 7th failures. Finally, it addresses Shin Bet head David Zini's warnings about crime and weapons in Bedouin communities, noting the immense quantities of illegal weapons and the potential for them to be used for terrorism, while criticizing the government's inaction.