The Israeli army has recently acknowledged a series of errors made during Hamas’ attack on 7 October, which ultimately sparked the ongoing war in Gaza. In a report released by the army, it admitted to slow response times and disorganization, particularly in the border community of Be’eri, which suffered the brunt of the attack. The military’s chief spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, expressed regret over the army’s failure to protect the residents of Kibbutz Be’eri, where over 100 people were killed and many others were taken hostage.
During the attack, a tank reportedly fired at a home where 13 hostages were held, leading to concerns of friendly fire causing their deaths. However, the military’s investigation concluded that the hostages were likely killed by Hamas militants, although further tests are still needed to confirm this. The report also highlighted the presence of around 340 Hamas fighters who overran the kibbutz during the attack. Despite delays in the arrival of military forces and a lack of understanding of the severity of the situation, the report commended the bravery of the Be’eri residents and civilian rapid response team in stabilising the defensive line during the combat.
The army has faced criticism from Palestinians and human rights groups for its lack of accountability and punishment in such situations. The kibbutz itself has called for a state commission of inquiry to investigate the broader failures of 7 October to prevent similar tragedies in the future. The attack, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and the taking of 250 hostages, exposed serious deficiencies in the army’s readiness, intelligence assessments, and government policies towards Gaza.
In response to the attack, Israel launched an offensive that has led to the deaths of over 38,000 Palestinians, displacement of over 80% of the population in Gaza, and triggered a humanitarian crisis. The country now faces allegations of war crimes and genocide in international courts. The Israeli army has initiated several investigations into the failures of 7 October, resulting in the resignation of key military officials. Despite calls for an official state investigation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected them, as the war continues to escalate into its 10th month.
