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Hamas’s major attack came out of nowhere on October 7. The terrorist group fired thousands of rockets into Israel as armed terrorists approached the ground. The terrorists entered kibbutzim and towns such as Ashkelon, Sderot and Ofakim, killing civilians in the streets.
More than 1,400 people were killed and more than 230 hostages were taken during ‘Operation Al-Aqsa Flood’. Israel seemed completely surprised by the attack. The reason: Hamas was underestimated, according to research by the New York Times.
For example, Hamas radio communications were no longer intercepted. Israeli intelligence had stopped eavesdropping a year before the major attack because the agents considered it a waste of time.
Israel relied on air defense systems
Israeli military intelligence and the National Security Council had agreed since May 2021 that Hamas would not dare attack Israel for fear of a devastating counterattack. Five sources who wished to remain anonymous confirmed this to the New York Times.
At the same time, Israel had Iran and Hezbollah in its sights as the biggest threats. U.S. intelligence agencies also no longer had Hamas on their radar, believing the group posed a regional threat that Israel could control.
And so the Hamas terrorists could prepare at their leisure, scout targets and train fighters for the attack. Israeli authorities felt safe and relied on their air defense system and border fortifications to keep Hamas at bay.
Senior Israeli military officials believed that the combination of long-range surveillance and machine gun systems with the massive wall made penetrating Israel virtually impossible. A fatal error of judgment. Hamas used explosive drones to easily disable mobile phone antennas and remote-controlled firing systems protecting the fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel.
The terrorists were so precise that the Israeli soldiers could not believe it. “All of our screens were turned off in almost exactly the same second,” soldiers told the New York Times.
Netanyahu is not aware of any guilt
Unlike leading representatives of the military, the secret service and Defense Minister Joav Galant (64), Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (74) has so far stubbornly refused to acknowledge responsibility for Israel’s failure on October 7. “Under no circumstances and at no time was I warned of Hamas’s warlike intentions. On the contrary, all security representatives, including the head of military intelligence and the head of Shin Bet (domestic intelligence), believed that deterrence against Hamas was working and that Hamas was seeking an agreement,” the 74-year-old newspaper wrote. year old on X, formerly Twitter.
This assessment was submitted to the Prime Minister and the government again and again until the outbreak of war. The post was no longer reachable on Sunday morning.
The meeting was dismissed and warnings were ignored
However, New York Times research shows that Netanyahu ignored warnings of a growing threat of war. For example, on July 24, two senior Israeli generals tried to explain that Syria, Hamas, Hezbollah or Islamic Jihad might be planning an attack. But they were not heard. Netanyahu refused a meeting. And that played into Hamas’s hands. With bloody consequences.
Accordingly, the assessment of Eyal Hulata, Israel’s national security advisor from 2021 until early this year, is damning. He said at a meeting in Washington last week: “I don’t think there’s anyone who was involved in Gaza affairs who shouldn’t have to wonder how and where they were also part of this colossal failure.”
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
