ISLAMABAD: Israel’s military has taken decisive action by dismissing threesenior generals and imposing disciplinary measures on several otherhigh-ranking officers for their roles in failing to prevent the devastatingHamas attack on October 7, 2023. This announcement, made by army chiefLieutenant General Eyal Zamir, marks a significant step in addressing theintelligence and operational lapses that allowed the assault to unfold,resulting in over 1,200 deaths and the abduction of around 250 hostages.The move follows an internal investigation that highlighted systemicfailures across the chain of command, including inadequate decision-makingand force deployment on the night of the attack.
The dismissed officers include former military intelligence chief AharonHaliva, former southern command head Yaron Finkelman, and former operationsdirectorate chief Oded Basyuk. According to a military statement, theseindividuals bear personal responsibility for the armed forces’ inability tothwart the incursion from Gaza. Although they had previously resigned fromactive duty, the latest decision ends their reserve service entirely.Additional reprimands have been issued to the chiefs of the navy and airforce, as well as four other generals and various senior personnel,underscoring the breadth of accountability being enforced.
This development comes amid ongoing public demands for a comprehensivestate commission of inquiry into the October 7 events, which the governmenthas been slow to establish despite widespread pressure. Zamir had calledfor a “systemic investigation” just two weeks prior, emphasizing the needto examine the root causes of what he described as the military’s primaryfailure to protect civilians. Critics argue that while these dismissals area positive step, they fall short of holding political leaders accountable,particularly as the war in Gaza, triggered by the attack, has led toextensive casualties and destruction over the past two years.
The timing is notable, occurring shortly after a U.S.-brokered ceasefirebetween Israel and Hamas took effect last month, though tensions persistwith mutual accusations of violations. The inquiry also pointed to acritical intelligence shortfall, despite access to high-quality informationthat could have raised alarms. Supporters of the military’s actions viewthis as an effort to restore public trust and enhance future preparedness,while opponents call for broader reforms to prevent similar catastrophes.As Israel continues to navigate the aftermath, including efforts to returnremaining hostages and rebuild affected communities, these personnelchanges signal a commitment to learning from one of the nation’s darkestdays.
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Source:www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11/24/israel-fires-military-commanders-over-october-7-failures”>https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11/24/israel-fires-military-commanders-over-october-7-failures