Deputy Minister Almog Cohen Questions Security Failures Before October 7 Massacre

Deputy Minister Almog Cohen spoke in a recent interview on the C14 web program "On the Way to the Polls with Dana and Ron," addressing the Israeli security establishment's conduct in the hours leading up to the October 7 massacre. Cohen expressed deep frustration and confusion over why the intelligence received overnight did not prompt a different operational response from Israeli forces on the ground. He highlighted the critical pre-attack hours as a source of ongoing anger and wondered what might have happened if the security system had acted differently.

When directly asked if he believed there was betrayal that night, Cohen admitted he has struggled to avoid that thought but clarified he has no conclusive proof. He suggested that perhaps someone simply ignored the warnings, as he could not find another explanation for the failure. Drawing on his experience in tactical units, Cohen emphasized that even minimal intelligence should have triggered immediate alertness across all systems.

Cohen also questioned why information about Hamas militants preparing in tunnels was not communicated throughout the night, calling the lack of response a matter that raises serious questions. Regarding the public debate over establishing a state inquiry commission, Cohen strongly opposed the move. He argued that the support for such a commission by former senior security officials Aharon Haliva, Herzl Halevi, and Ronen Bar proves it should not be formed, as they are the clear and sole parties responsible for the failure.