Former IDF Deputy Chief Calls for Limited Bipartisan Inquiry into October Massacre Intelligence Failures
Retired Major General Uzi Dayan, former Deputy Chief of Staff and National Security Advisor, supports establishing a joint coalition-opposition commission to investigate the intelligence failures surrounding the October massacre. In an interview with Channel 7, Dayan emphasized the importance of clearly defining the commission's mandate to avoid politicization and public rejection of its findings. He suggested limiting the investigation to the immediate period before the October attack, excluding broader historical contexts such as the Oslo Accords or the Gaza disengagement, to maintain focus and effectiveness.
Dayan acknowledged the intelligence failure as significant but not the sole cause of the tragedy. He recounted a personal disagreement with General Giora Eiland over the approach to Hamas, arguing that Hamas should not be considered part of any solution but rather eliminated. He noted that fear of casualties restrained military and political leadership from taking more decisive action, which in turn reinforced flawed strategic assumptions.
Regarding intelligence responsibility, Dayan placed considerable blame on the Shin Bet, which had primary oversight of Gaza. Drawing from his experience as Central Command chief during the government's decision to open the Western Wall tunnels, he highlighted communication breakdowns and the lack of coordinated military readiness. He stressed that decisions to shift to wartime footing must be delegated to lower command levels to enable rapid response.
Dayan also criticized the decision to halt patrols along the Gaza border fence, suggesting that alternative deployments could have maintained security without provoking Hamas. He underscored the need for professionalism and ethical standards in the IDF, advocating for a concise code emphasizing victory, skill, and leadership example rather than lengthy ethical commandments. Such principles, he argued, would have altered the course of the conflict from the outset.
The interview is part of a Channel 7 series examining unanswered questions and critical perspectives on the October massacre and its aftermath.
