Former IDF Chief Halevi Calls Oct. 7 a Preventable Failure

Former IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi stated that the October 7th Hamas attack was a "preventable failure." Speaking at the "Shurat HaDin" conference on combating antisemitism in New York, Halevi reflected on the surprise assault and the ongoing war. He acknowledged that the prevailing assessment within the IDF, Shin Bet, and the political echelon was that Hamas did not desire war, a perception Hamas actively cultivated.

Halevi emphasized that there was no betrayal by Israeli officials on October 7th. "The political echelon and the political leadership must say this out loud and clearly," he asserted, explaining that he could detail the events of October 7th precisely. He expressed disbelief that any colleague, after decades of service and risking their lives, would intentionally aid Hamas, noting that such an act would require a vast network, none of which has been uncovered after three years.

Reflecting on the need for introspection, Halevi stated, "As part of the learning and healing process, Israel must complete the investigation and ask hard questions, as we have done in the IDF." He added, "7 October was a failure that could have been prevented. We must look failure in the eye to be able to correct it." He poignantly mentioned Shiri Bibas, saying, "I look at Shiri Bibas's picture and see the fear in her eyes. We were not there in time to help and save her. That is the failure."

Halevi also discussed the military's efforts to convince the political leadership to conduct ground operations in Gaza, noting it took considerable time to break from the pattern of smaller, air-strike-based operations. He argued that significant military pressure within Gaza was essential for the return of hostages, a point he claimed he could prove. He admitted that Israeli bombs had unintentionally killed hostages, stating, "Of course, it was not intentional. We did not know they were there." He added that the IDF underwent an accelerated learning process to improve its ability to locate hostages precisely and prevent such errors.

Looking back, Halevi explained that the IDF's war priorities were Iran, then Hezbollah, and finally Hamas, due to the misjudgment of Hamas's intentions. He noted that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar made extensive efforts to surprise Israel and attack simultaneously across the Gaza border. Sinwar also believed Israel would hesitate to maneuver within Gaza, considering it a complex combat zone, a perception that Israel inadvertently reinforced. However, Halevi mentioned that by the late morning of October 7th, a message was sent to Hezbollah indicating that while Israel was surprised in Gaza, it was closely monitoring Hezbollah and would respond with overwhelming force to any provocation.