Ex-IDF Chief Halevi Denies Betrayal, Admits Israeli Bombs Killed Hostages

Former IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi broke his silence on the October 7th failures, stating unequivocally that there was "100% no betrayal" from within the leadership. Speaking at the "Shurat HaDin" conference in New York, Halevi dismissed conspiracy theories, asserting that his colleagues, who risked their lives for decades, would not aid Hamas. He emphasized the need for a comprehensive state inquiry, stating, "As part of the healing process, Israel must ask hard questions." Halevi expressed deep regret over the military's failures, acknowledging that "unfortunately, our bombs killed hostages" because their presence was unknown, and noted that the IDF has since undergone rapid learning to prevent recurrence.

Addressing the possibility of "absolute victory," Halevi revealed disputes with the political echelon, noting it took significant effort to convince them to maneuver in Gaza and that "without heavy military pressure, we would not have returned hostages." He also admitted that the IDF's previous prioritization of Iran and Hezbollah over Hamas, based on the assessment that Hamas did not desire war, was a flawed concept that contributed to the disaster. Halevi explained that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar acted to surprise Israel, believing Israel would not enter Gaza, a belief that Israel inadvertently reinforced.

Despite the failures, Halevi highlighted the IDF's swift action to prevent a second front, sending a clear message to Hezbollah on the morning of October 7th that any minor move would result in a "very heavy hammer" falling on Lebanon. He also shared personal reflections on the lessons learned since October 7th, stressing the importance of "getting up" after a fall and learning from failure to "fix, rebuild, and grow."