Former IDF Chief Admits Israeli Bombs Killed Hostages

Former IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi stated that Israeli bombs inadvertently killed hostages during operations in Gaza, acknowledging "mistakes were made." He explained that the military did not know the hostages were in the targeted locations at the time. Halevi made these remarks at the "Shurat HaDin" conference on combating antisemitism in New York on Sunday.

Addressing the failures leading up to the October 7th Hamas attack, Halevi described it as a preventable failure that requires direct acknowledgment to enable correction. He cited the image of hostage Shiri Bibas as a stark illustration of the magnitude of the failure, lamenting that "we were not there in time to help and save her."

Halevi dismissed claims of betrayal from within the security establishment, stating he does not believe any colleagues aided Hamas. He asserted that he can explain the events of October 7th in detail and noted that after three years, no individual has been proven to have collaborated with Hamas, suggesting any such assistance would require a broad network rather than a single person.

Regarding the war in Gaza and hostage recovery efforts, Halevi argued that military pressure was essential. "Without strong military pressure inside Gaza, we would not have been able to recover the hostages. I can prove it," he stated. He also indicated that the IDF needed to shift from its previous operational pattern of short combat rounds and air strikes to a broad ground maneuver.

Halevi recalled that prior to the attack, the assessment in Israel was that Hamas did not desire war, partly because it aimed to consolidate its rule in Gaza and expand its influence to the West Bank. He mentioned that Yahya Sinwar sought to surprise Israel and act simultaneously in multiple arenas. Halevi also revealed that on the morning of October 7th, the IDF sent a message to Hezbollah warning of a severe response if they intervened, even with a small action.