Israeli military suffered significant setbacks on October 7, with the Gaza Division experiencing a ten-hour long defeat
In October 2023, Israel was struck by a large-scale surprise attack from Gaza, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict. The attack, dubbed the Storm of Al Aqsa by Hamas, was a culmination of rising tensions throughout the year, including increased settler violence, clashes around the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and escalations between Israel and Palestinian militant groups.
The Israeli border barrier with Gaza was not adequately understood by the Shin Bet, and the IDF's ability to respond was hindered by a failed intelligence operation in Jan Yunis, southern Gaza, which had impeded the recruitment of human intelligence sources in Gaza.
The consequences of the attack were profound. Israel responded with immediate aerial bombardments and a ground invasion, aiming to destroy Hamas, free hostages, and neutralize threats. However, the IDF found that the Gaza Division was defeated for nearly 10 hours on October 7, 2023, with chaos and confusion drastically slowing its response capacity.
The attack led to a humanitarian catastrophe, with over 50,500 reported deaths in Gaza by April 2025, predominantly civilians, including a large number of children and women. The conflict also deepened regional instability, with Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran-backed groups launching attacks on Israel and allied forces, broadening the war’s scope.
The IDF's investigation acknowledges that the valor of many civilians helped prevent a greater catastrophe during the attack. The Army counted 41 battles that day, with the ground attack by Hamas being carried out in three waves, involving 1,175 members of Hamas' Nukhba elite force. In total, between 5,000 and 5,600 militia members invaded Israel during the attack.
The IDF's report concluded that Israeli forces did not protect their civilians and were not prepared for a large-scale surprise attack like the one that Hamas leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, had planned for years. The attack was carried out without any prior warning from intelligence, neither from the specialized division of the Army nor from the Shin Bet, the internal security agency.
The Shin Bet investigation found "serious internal shortcomings" but most pointed to external elements, such as a lack of clear division of responsibilities between Shin Bet and the intelligence branch of the IDF. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists that a thorough investigation and the definitive end of the war are necessary before any conclusions can be drawn about the failures that led to the attack.
The investigation into the military failures that couldn't prevent the Hamas attacks is still awaiting an independent state commission of inquiry to analyze these errors in more depth and detail, including their political dimension. The hope is that such an inquiry will provide insights to prevent such a catastrophe from happening again in the future.
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- The escalation in war-and-conflicts between Israel and Palestinian militant groups, exemplified by the Storm of Al Aqsa attack in October 2023, has raised questions about policy-and-legislation regarding intelligence gathering and response, as the IDF's failure to anticipate and respond efficiently to the attack led to a catastrophic humanitarian crisis.
- The thorough investigation into the military failures preceding the Hamas attacks has revealed both internal shortcomings within the Shin Bet and a lack of clear division of responsibilities between the Shin Bet and the intelligence branch of the IDF, raising concerns about the efficiency of crime-and-justice administration and general-news related to national security.
- In addition to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant groups, regional instability has further been exacerbated by Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran-backed groups launching attacks on Israel and allied forces, highlighting the need for comprehensive policy-and-legislation to address war-and-conflicts in the Middle East, including considerations for car-accidents and accidents that may occur during military operations.
- The results of the investigations into the Hamas attacks have demonstrated that adequate preparation and response are crucial to preventing tragedy, as the absence of clear policies and efficient intelligence gathering created an environment conducive to large-scale surprises like the Storm of Al Aqsa, impacting political dynamics and shaping the narrative of crime-and-justice.
