Ex-IDF Chief Halevi: Israel Misjudged Hamas, Believed It Feared War

Former IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi stated at the "Shurat HaDin" conference in New York that the perception was that Hamas did not want war, and that Iran was prioritized over Hamas. Speaking at the event, held at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, Halevi described the October 7th failures as preventable, but asserted there was "100% no internal betrayal." He emphasized that a state inquiry commission is necessary for Israel's healing process, stating, "Israel must complete the investigation and ask hard questions."

Halevi also addressed the military operations in Gaza, arguing that without significant military pressure, the hostages could not have been rescued. He acknowledged that Israeli bombs had unintentionally killed hostages, explaining that the military learned rapidly to improve its ability to locate hostages and prevent such errors. He noted that it took considerable effort to convince the political echelon to conduct ground maneuvers in Gaza, breaking away from previous patterns of smaller, air-only operations.

Reflecting on the pre-war "conception," Halevi explained that the priority was Iran, then Hezbollah, and then Hamas, as they did not anticipate Hamas's actions. The prevailing view in the IDF, Shin Bet, and the political leadership was that Hamas sought to prove its ability to manage Gaza's population, with the underlying fear being its potential to later take over the West Bank. Halevi stated that Hamas invested heavily in creating this misperception.

Regarding the October 7th surprise attack, Halevi mentioned that Yahya Sinwar did everything to surprise Israel and that all border points were attacked immediately after 6:29 AM. Sinwar was also convinced Israel would not maneuver in Gaza, believing it to be a complex combat zone. However, Halevi revealed that a message was conveyed to Hezbollah later that morning: "We were surprised in Gaza, but we are watching you closely. If you make even a small move, a very heavy hammer will fall on Lebanon."

Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, President of Shurat HaDin and initiator of the conference, concluded that Israel's and the Jewish people's existential struggle extends beyond the military battlefield, citing rising antisemitism fueled by funding, AI, social media, and international legal systems. She called for unprecedented cooperation among legal experts, diplomats, researchers, and technologists to shift from defense to offense and hold accountable those who threaten their right to live securely.