Ex-IDF Chief Halevi Calls Oct. 7 a Preventable Failure, Denies Betrayal

Halevi rejected conspiracy theories of internal betrayal, stating there was absolutely no such action and that a conspiracy would have required numerous participants. He explained that Israeli intelligence fundamentally misunderstood Hamas's intentions, believing the terrorist organization was focused on governing Gaza rather than launching a large-scale war. He also acknowledged that Israel's strategic priorities had incorrectly placed Iran and Hezbollah ahead of Hamas.

To address these lapses, Halevi called for the establishment of a state commission of inquiry and urged Israel to complete its investigation. He asserted that confronting the failure is a crucial step in the nation's healing process. Additionally, Halevi admitted that Israeli bombs had unintentionally killed hostages during military operations, and revealed that he had disagreed with political leadership over the timing of the Gaza ground operation, maintaining that strong military pressure was essential for hostage releases.