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Ex-IDF Chief Halevi Denies Betrayal, Admits Israeli Bombs Killed Hostages
Former IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi spoke publicly about the failures of October 7, 2023, during a Shurat HaDin conference in New York, calling the attack an avoidable failure and dismissing conspiracy theories of internal betrayal. Halevi stated that there was absolutely no betrayal from within the leadership, explaining that his colleagues who risked their lives for decades would not assist Hamas, and that such an operation would have required a massive network of collaborators of which no evidence has been found after three years.
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What happened
- 01Former IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi stated at a New York conference that there was absolutely no internal betrayal on October 7.
- 02Halevi admitted that Israeli bombs unintentionally killed hostages in Gaza due to a lack of intelligence regarding their locations.
- 03The former Chief of Staff called the October 7 attack an avoidable failure and demanded a comprehensive state inquiry.
- 04Halevi revealed that the IDF had to pressure the political echelon to approve the ground maneuver in Gaza.
- 05He asserted that heavy military pressure inside Gaza was essential to secure the return of hostages.
- 06Halevi acknowledged that the IDF made a mistake by prioritizing Iran and Hezbollah over Hamas prior to the attack.
- 07The Shurat HaDin conference in New York where Halevi spoke also addressed rising antisemitism and Israel hatred.
Addressing the conduct of the war, Halevi admitted that Israeli bombs unintentionally killed hostages in Gaza because the military lacked intelligence about their presence. He emphasized that the IDF has since undergone rapid learning to prevent such occurrences. Halevi also revealed that the military had to exert significant effort to convince the political echelon to launch the ground maneuver in Gaza, arguing that heavy military pressure was essential to secure the return of hostages.
Halevi acknowledged that the IDF's prior strategic prioritization, which focused first on Iran, then Hezbollah, and lastly Hamas, was a flawed concept. This assessment was based on the mistaken belief that Hamas did not desire war and was actively working to create a false sense of security. Halevi called for a comprehensive state inquiry to ask difficult questions, stating that looking the failure in the eye is necessary for Israel's healing and to prevent future disasters.
Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated
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Ex-IDF Chief Halevi Denies Betrayal, Admits Israeli Bombs Killed Hostages
