Report: Israeli army chief grilled by minister over October 7 attack
Israel’s transportation minister reportedly questioned the army chief to “explain to us where was the army on October 7” – the day of the deadly Hamas attack.
Israel’s military had warnings of a potential attack, Transportation Minister Miri Regev said in an apparently heated cabinet meeting on Thursday, according to The Times of Israel.
“If the Military Intelligence Directorate were so disturbed, why did you allow army-wide vacations in October? Why didn’t you do more?” Regev asked army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi.
Helvi responded, “All matters regarding the warning we gave about October 7 are being dealt with in internal investigations. If you meant in your question that we knew and ignored or that we wanted such a thing to happen – that’s not even worthy of a response.”
The Times cited leaked transcripts aired on Channel 12 as the source of the comments.
Pride (and arrogance) goes before the fall. The intelligence directorate wasn't that disturbed at all, had full confidence in their electronic surveillance and didn't believe Hamas could pull off the attack. Yes they largely ignored the warnings. It's not that they wanted such a thing to happen, they simply didn't believe it was possible to happen.
They had over a year to train for such an event with the plans in their hands. Yet instead chose inaction, believing the electronic fence, wall and military border posts were invincible.
What they should also be grilled about is the late response and nature of response which ended up killing more innocent people with the Hannibal directive. Helicopters firing hellfire missiles indiscriminately at cars and a tank shelling a house containing hostages. Some of which have been confirmed by the IDF
https://www.timesofisrael.com/efrat-katz-likely-killed-by-iaf-helicopter-fire-during-oct-7-abduction-attempt-probe/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-officer-recounts-ordering-tank-fire-on-beeri-home-during-hostage-standoff-on-oct-7/
They didn't believe such an attack could happen and therefore didn't have a plan nor working command structure to deal with such an attack. The IDF literally got caught with their pants down and started firing blindly as a response. (And haven't stopped since)
Cruel, despicable way to deal with the death of hostages. Yet the IDF and Israeli prisons do no different. When will this end.
Hamas says more captives killed in Israeli attacks
Hamas says Israeli government and military officials continue to be responsible for the deaths of captives held in Gaza. A video released shows images of what the Palestinian group claims are the bodies of several captives allegedly killed in Israeli attacks.
“Ask Netanyahu and his government about their identities and names,” the text on the video reads in Arabic, Hebrew and English. “They can tell you everything because they know them well.” “This is how they will bring them back,” the video added, showing a picture of Israeli families crying over a coffin.
The footage comes as Israeli protesters demanded a deal to release the captives during weekly demonstrations in Tel Aviv.
People protest for the release of captives near the defence ministry in Tel Aviv
Israeli army says remains of three captives uncovered in ‘complex’ operation
The Israeli military released footage from the night raid that recovered the remains of three captives held in Gaza. It said the “complex” operation was conducted in a tunnel in Jabalia in northern Gaza, the same area where bodies of another four captives were recovered a week earlier.
According to the army, the exact location of the bodies was gleaned from intelligence obtained by the military and security agency Shin Bet over the past few days.
A Palestinian operative, who appeared to have been placed in the area as a lookout, was killed by Israeli soldiers before they raided and captured the site.
Israeli soldiers gather in Jabalia in northern Gaza in an operation that led to the recovery of three bodies of captives taken on October 7
Captives’ families demand end of the war on Gaza
Family members of Israeli captives held in Gaza say only an agreement to end the war can bring back their loved ones. “The conditions for a deal have not changed, the only way to return the hostages is by ending the war,” Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is held in Gaz, said at a rally in Tel Aviv.
Zangauker, an outspoken critic of the Israeli government’s failure to bring back the captives, also demanded the government reach an agreement with Hamas.
In another Saturday of protests in Israel, demonstrators took to the streets in Tel Aviv and Haifa to demand the return of the captives and for elections to form a new government.
”No rest until they are all home": Dozens of former IDF observers come to support the families of the hostages at the Hostages Square
At the massive rally in Hostages Square, held at the end of a week during which the shocking video of the observers was released, dozens of… pic.twitter.com/0tbfEAPHyY
— Bring Them Home Now (@bringhomenow) May 25, 2024
Thousands of Israelis demand return of captives after bodies recovered
Israeli police fired water cannon and forcibly removed demonstrators in downtown Tel Aviv as thousands rallied to demand urgent government action to bring home captives from Gaza.
Protesters observed a minute’s silence in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square in honour of the captives whose bodies were recovered by Israeli troops this month. Another protest, calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and an early election, was held nearby.
Palestinian fighters on October 7 took 252 hostages, 121 of whom remain in Gaza, including 37 the army says are dead.
‘You are responsible for our terrible failure – take responsibility’
These protests have gotten louder and louder and bigger and bigger week on week.
Thousands of Israeli demonstrators have gathered in Tel Aviv outside the defence ministry. There have also been antigovernment protests across the country in the past few hours, in the north in Haifa and outside the prime minister’s residency as well.
They’re calling for an immediate end to the war and the captives back as part of a deal, but also criticising the prime minister, telling him he needs to resign as soon as possible.
To give you a sense of the anger, one father – whose daughter was killed on October 7 – talking directly to Netanyahu said, “You are responsible for our terrible failure. Take responsibility.”
Protesters and families of Israeli captives gather outside the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv
