Gaza Division Officers Warn of Return to Pre-October 7th Security Failures

Officers in the Gaza Division have expressed grave concerns in a closed-door meeting, stating that the operational reality along the border with Gaza reminds them of the period preceding the October 7th Hamas attacks. According to reports, the officers voiced frustration over incidents where they identified militants, armed individuals, or observed training exercises near the border fence, but were allegedly denied authorization to act against them. During the meeting, some officers made stark statements, including the assertion that "we have returned to October 6th," referring to the day before the Hamas massacre. The commander of the Gaza Division, Brigadier General Liron Bitito, responded by explaining that the IDF operates under significant pressures and constraints. Bitito indicated that in some instances, orders were given not to engage, partly due to a visit by a senior foreign dignitary to Israel last month. Sources suggest this dignitary was Jared Kushner, former President Trump's Middle East envoy, who visited Israel last month. Military officials, however, maintain that there has been no change in the open-fire policy in the Gaza Strip and characterize the meeting as a normal discussion between a commander and his subordinates. They also noted increased IDF activity in the Gaza Strip in recent days. These concerns echo earlier testimonies from female observers published last month, who claimed Hamas was testing IDF responses near the border and that forces struggled to obtain firing authorizations even when suspects were identified. One observer described feeling "hands tied" and likened the situation to October 6th, stating that forces recognized threats but did not always receive permission to neutralize them. The IDF Spokesperson's Unit did not provide a response to the report by Kan News.