Report on Hamas Attack of October 7; Israeli Army Admits Its Mistakes

On Thursday, July 21, the Israeli army released a report regarding the deadly attacks by Hamas on the south of the country on October 7 of last year, admitting to a series of mistakes, including a slow response and disorganization in operations. According to the Associated Press, this report includes the initial findings of the Israeli army's investigation into the failure to counter the Hamas militants' attack. The report focuses on the kibbutz 'Beeri' near the Gaza Strip, where over 100 residents were killed during the Hamas attack, and more than 30 were taken hostage by the militants supported by the Islamic Republic. Daniel Hagari, spokesperson for the Israeli army, said in a televised speech, 'The army failed in its mission to protect the residents of Kibbutz Beeri,' adding, 'It is painful and difficult for me to say this.' The report mentions a several-hour delay in the arrival of Israeli military units, stating that they waited outside the kibbutz until the afternoon and did not recognize the severity of the situation. According to the Associated Press, residents of Kibbutz Beeri had mixed reactions to the report; some expressed anger over the army's failure that day, while others appreciated that the army took responsibility. In this context, the kibbutz has called for the establishment of an official commission to investigate the widespread failures of October 7 to prevent any other citizen from facing such a situation. Following the surprise attack by Hamas, around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed, and more than 250 others were taken hostage and transferred to Gaza. So far, 109 hostages have been released from Hamas captivity, and according to Israeli estimates, 116 other hostages are still in Gaza, of whom 42 are likely to have lost their lives. Subsequently, Israel launched an attack on Gaza with the aim of destroying Hamas. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, which is controlled by Hamas, over 38,000 Palestinians have been killed, and more than 80% of the population has been displaced, resulting in a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. The Associated Press noted that Israel is now facing war crimes and genocide allegations in international courts. Nevertheless, the country has rejected such accusations while also pointing to Hamas's use of civilians as human shields and the militants' assaults on women and girls during the October 7 attack. According to the report, the Israeli army has initiated investigations regarding the events of October 7, the head of military intelligence has resigned, and several other commanders have apologized and taken responsibility for the failures. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected repeated calls for investigations. He stated that in a situation where the country is focused on the war against Hamas, no investigations can be conducted, adding that all questions will be answered in due time. Critics accuse the Israeli Prime Minister of stalling to avoid what would likely be severe criticism of his policies and leadership. Meanwhile, Yoav Gallant, Israel's Defense Minister, called for a government investigation into the mistakes made regarding the Hamas attack on October 7 during a military ceremony, emphasizing that the investigation should include all decision-makers, including himself and Benjamin Netanyahu. Mr. Gallant, at the graduation ceremony for new officers attended by Netanyahu, stated that the investigation should be objective and comprehensive, encompassing all executive, military, and security bodies. The audience welcomed his remarks. Earlier, a member of the local security team of Kibbutz Beeri revealed in an interview with Channel 12 Israel that at 11 a.m. on October 7, he contacted Benjamin Netanyahu and informed him that hundreds of terrorists were present inside the kibbutz. According to Maur, Netanyahu assured him that the incident would be addressed. Elam Maur, in response to a Channel 12 reporter's question about his conversation with Netanyahu, said, 'Yes, that happened.' He also stated that Beeri, which was left isolated at the time, had requested help. Netanyahu had responded, 'We will address this issue.' However, additional military forces did not arrive at the kibbutz until 1:30 p.m. on October 7.