Israel’s military has announced the dismissal of three generals and disciplinary measures against several senior officers, holding them personally responsible for failing to prevent Hamas’s deadly assault on October 7, 2023 — the deadliest attack in the country’s history.
The move comes two weeks after Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir called for a “systemic investigation” into the failures that led to the attack.
The government, however, has resisted public pressure to establish a formal state commission of inquiry.
Among those dismissed were three divisional commanders, including the former head of military intelligence. All three had already resigned from their positions, including General Yaron Finkelman, the former head of the southern command.
Additional disciplinary actions were announced against the heads of the Israeli navy and air force, as well as four other generals and several senior officers.
While the military has taken clear steps to assign accountability, questions remain about whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could also face scrutiny for his role in the country’s inability to prevent the Hamas onslaught.
Netanyahu has repeatedly stated over the past two years that these failures should only be addressed after the war in Gaza concludes.
Polls indicate that a majority of Israelis across the political spectrum support an independent inquiry to identify those responsible, but the government has so far refused to establish one.
The October 2023 Hamas attack in southern Israel left 1,221 people dead and triggered a devastating two-year conflict in Gaza.
Israeli retaliatory strikes have claimed at least 69,756 lives, according to Gaza’s health ministry figures, which are considered reliable by the UN.
Military Investigation Findings
Earlier this month, a report from a committee of experts appointed by Chief of Staff Zamir concluded Israel’s military had suffered a “long-standing systemic and organizational failure.” The investigation cited significant intelligence shortcomings, noting the army’s “inability to raise the alarm” despite having access to “exceptional, high-quality information.”
The report further criticized the military’s decision-making and force deployment on the night of October 7, 2023, highlighting failures across the chain of command. Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, has instructed the defence establishment’s comptroller, Yair Wolans, to review the report and determine whether further investigations are warranted.
Israeli media have suggested the latest developments may underscore ongoing tensions between Zamir and Katz, who have previously disagreed on the prosecution of the war against Hamas.
Tensions Continue Along Gaza Border
Meanwhile, Israel’s military reported on Monday that its troops killed three militants who crossed the so-called Yellow Line, a buffer zone established under the ceasefire agreement reached last month.
Two of the individuals were killed near Khan Yunis, where Gaza’s civil defence agency reported two fatalities from a separate drone strike. Nasser Hospital confirmed receiving two bodies and three injured individuals, including one in critical condition.
Mahmud Bassal, a civil defence spokesperson, said another person was killed by tank fire in Gaza City, with Shifa Hospital confirming the casualty and several injuries. Hamas has repeatedly accused Israel of moving the Yellow Line further into Gaza, calling it a violation of the ceasefire.
Hamas also announced that a “high-level leadership delegation” has been in Cairo over the past two days to negotiate the second phase of a U.S.-brokered truce, which began on October 10.
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