Daijiworld Media Network – Jerusalem
Jerusalem, Nov 24: Israel’s military on Sunday dismissed three generals and initiated disciplinary action against several senior officers over what it called major lapses connected to Hamas’s October 2023 assault.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt Gen Eyal Zamir announced the decisions, stating that the officers bore personal responsibility for the failure to prevent the unprecedented attack from Gaza. The three removed commanders include a former military intelligence chief.
“This is a severe, resounding, and systemic failure that relates to decisions and conduct before and during the event. The lessons of that day must serve as our compass for the future,” Zamir said in a video message.
Zamir emphasised that the IDF failed in its core mission on October 7 — protecting Israeli citizens. The disciplinary actions follow his recent call for a “systemic investigation,” even as the Israeli government has yet to establish an official inquiry despite public demands.
The probe found “deficient decision-making processes” and poor force deployment during the night of the attack, highlighting failures across the chain of command. Defence Minister Israel Katz said he had assigned the defence establishment’s comptroller, Yair Wolansky, to examine the report and determine whether more investigations were needed.
The generals dismissed had already resigned, including former Southern Command chief Gen Yaron Finkelman. Additional disciplinary measures were issued against the heads of the navy and air force, along with four other generals and senior officers.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained that the failures surrounding the October 7 attack should only be reviewed after the Gaza war concludes.
Hamas’s coordinated assault in 2023 killed 1,221 people in southern Israel and triggered a two-year conflict in Gaza. Israel’s military campaign has since killed at least 69,756 people, according to Gaza health authorities.
Inside Gaza on Monday, Israeli forces said they shot three militants who crossed the “Yellow Line,” a boundary established under last month’s ceasefire. Hamas has accused Israel of shifting the line deeper into its territory, calling it a violation of the truce terms.