Independent Investigation Commission Values Prime Minister And Minister Of Defense Failed To Protect Israeli Citizens

PM Netanyahu chaired a security consultation meeting at the Ministry of Defense with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, Shin Bet Head Ronen Bar and Mossad Chief David Barnea. (Source: Ma'ayan Toaf/GPO)

JAKARTA - The independent Civil Investigation Commission for the October 7, 2023 attack blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former defense minister and head of Israel's security agency, among others, for the government's failure in and ahead of the attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

In its report, the independent commission stated that the entire government had "failed to carry out its main mission" with the IDF (Israeli military), Shin Bet, and other organizations "the total failure to fulfill their only goal, protecting Israeli citizens," quoted from The Times of Israel November 26.

The Commission blamed "coupling" for the fact "the IDF is not prepared to face Israel's mass invasion by Hamas, although their plans were already known."

"The inherent group and blindness also cause political leadership to continue to work to strengthen Hamas by transferring funds and avoiding taking offensive initiatives in dealing with threats, while idealizing reality and trying to buy peace from Hamas using money," the report said.

The report also blamed PM Netanyahu directly, "repeated warnings from senior commando officials" to the prime minister failed to spark in-depth discussions of the threat and "relations between the prime minister and political leadership, as well as the entire military and professional leadership, bad or even not established at all for a long time."

The defense minister at the time Yoav Gallant, IDF Chief of Staff, heads of Military Intelligence and their predecessors were also responsible for the disaster, as, among other things, reduced the presence of the IDF along the Gaza border and allowed IDF observers to face their fate, the commission found.

On the other hand, former senior defense officials, such as current opposition politicians and former defense minister Benny Gantz, are also responsible for the failure of the IDF, including the idea of turning to "small and intelligent troops," the report alleged.

In addition, the chief of staff and senior IDF leadership are responsible for "lack of operational response to the 'Blockman' and commemoration on the evening of October 6 and the morning of October 7".

Last year, The New York Times reported Israel obtained its Hamas plans for its attack on October 7, dubbed "Thelockman", more than a year before the devastating attack.

Quoted from Reuters, the attack by the Palestinian militant group led by Hamas on October 7 to the south of Israel, killed about 1,200 people and 250 others were held hostage, according to Israeli calculations.