The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has acknowledged that the attacks by Hamas on October 7, 2023, were a significant failure of Israeli security. This admission came after a thorough internal investigation, which revealed that the militant group had been planning the attacks for years, using deception to catch Israel off guard.
The military’s investigation concluded that the IDF "failed in its mission to protect people" and labeled the incident as one of the greatest failures in its history. On that day, Hamas launched a coordinated assault, with approximately 5,600 militants infiltrating Israel in three waves. They fired nearly 4,700 rockets and mortars from Gaza, resulting in the deaths of 1,320 people and the abduction of 251 individuals.
Before the attacks, the Israeli security focus was primarily on threats from Iran and Hezbollah, leading to a reduced presence along the Gaza border. The IDF had only stationed the minimum number of troops needed for routine security, viewing Gaza as a secondary threat. Intelligence assessments mistakenly indicated that Hamas lacked the capability or desire for a full-scale war.
Despite some unusual signs, such as activated Israeli SIM cards in Gaza, duty officers did not act on them, believing further investigation was necessary. The scale and brutality of the assault took the IDF by surprise, with many of its commanders resorting to using Google Maps and mobile phones to coordinate their response during the chaos.
The inquiry also highlighted that many of the attackers in the third wave were not trained Hamas fighters but rather individuals from other groups or civilians taking advantage of the situation. The IDF struggled to differentiate between Hamas militants and Israeli civilians, leading to instances of friendly fire.
The investigation revealed that Hamas’s leader, Yahya Sinwar, had been planning this attack since 2016, with a formal plan approved in 2019. Over the years, Hamas managed to convince Israeli leaders that it sought economic growth rather than conflict. Previous smaller conflicts had not significantly weakened Hamas’s capabilities, and the group had come close to launching attacks several times in 2022 before finally executing their plan during a Jewish religious holiday in 2023.
As the IDF continues to analyze the events of October 7, they have compiled 41 specific findings related to battles in various communities and military bases. These findings will be shared with the affected communities in the coming days. Meanwhile, the Israeli government has faced calls for a State Commission of Inquiry, which it has so far rejected, citing the ongoing conflict as a reason for postponement. Critics of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu argue that he is avoiding accountability for his leadership during this crisis.