The Israeli military announced the dismissal of three generals and imposed disciplinary sanctions on others for failing to prevent Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023.
Actions taken by Chief of General Staff Lieutenant Colonel Eyal Zamir, They are the first Steps against many commanders, many of them generals Mistakes made before, during and after the terrorist attack Hamas, on October 7, 2023, massacres in the settlements surrounding the Gaza Strip and at the Nova Music Festival and the outbreak of war.
Major General Aharon Haliva then Head of Military IntelligenceMajor General Oded Basiuk, then chief of operations, and Major General Yaron Finkelman, who had just assumed command of Israel’s Southern Military District that day, They will be separated from the reserve forces and will cease to be in the army. According to a statement issued on Sunday evening.
Both Haliva and Winkelmann had already resigned, citing their responsibility for the October 7 tragedy, while Basiuk resigned. retirement This came after the war launched by Israel against Iran last June, which lasted 12 days.
Army It is the first Israeli institution to acknowledge its responsibility For the failure of October 7 and The mistaken belief that Hamas will never attack Israel, Deterred by its military power.
In addition to the three dismissed generals, the military announced disciplinary sanctions against Air Major General Tomer Bar and Vice Admiral David Sar Salma, the commanders of the Air Force and Navy.
Disciplinary measures will also be imposed on him Four other generals and four senior officers.
It remains to be seen whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will do so It can also be distinguished by its failure When avoiding attacks.
Over the past two years, Netanyahu has repeatedly emphasized that the failures that led to the attack must be addressed once the war in Gaza ends.
Opinion polls indicate that a large majority of Israelis, from various political sectors, support the formation of a committee to determine responsibilities.
Last Saturday, like every week for the past two years, hundreds of thousands of Israeli citizens took to the streets and squares Demanding the formation of a national investigation committee Presided over by a judge of the Supreme Court, as specified by law.
Netanyahu and his far-right government are limited, at the moment, to formation Political Investigation Committee To ensure that they will not appear guilty of supporting the idea of favoring Hamas over the Palestinian Authority for years, in the hope of destroying any prospect of peace and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
The Hamas attack led to a devastating war in Gaza It left at least 69,756 people dead, According to figures from the Ministry of Health in the Palestinian Territories, which the United Nations considers reliable.
Due to the restrictions imposed by Israel on the media, which imposes a blockade on Gaza, and the difficulties of access on the ground, Agence France-Presse cannot independently verify the assets and statements of the various parties.
The report of the committee of experts appointed by Eyal Zamir was published earlier this month, marking the end of the internal investigations conducted by the army into this matter. The shortcomings that led to the October 7 attack.
The document highlighted a “Long-term systemic and organizational dysfunction” Within the military apparatus.
The investigation also highlighted an “intelligence failure” and “inability to issue a warning” about the attacks, although the army He had “exceptional, high-quality information.”
He also criticized the report “Bad decision making processes” “Inappropriate deployment of forces during the night of October 7, 2023,” as well Failures throughout the military chain of command.
Currently, Israel and Hamas are exchanging accusations of violating the truce that entered into force on October 10 after two years of war.
Hamas indicated on Monday that a “high-level” delegation was in Cairo to hold talks on the issue The second phase of the ceasefire.
By Daniel Blumenthal (Israel), RFI and RFI