🚨 THREAD: Why Oct 7 went so wrong?
After a months-long internal review led by Maj. Gen. Sami Turgeman, the IDF has released its most comprehensive self-examination yet, a meta-investigation into what went wrong before and during Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack.
Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir called the event “an immense failure” and said the findings expose deep structural, cultural, and intelligence weaknesses that built up over years.
Here are the six major failures identified 👇
After a months-long internal review led by Maj. Gen. Sami Turgeman, the IDF has released its most comprehensive self-examination yet, a meta-investigation into what went wrong before and during Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack.
Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir called the event “an immense failure” and said the findings expose deep structural, cultural, and intelligence weaknesses that built up over years.
Here are the six major failures identified 👇
1️⃣ Intelligence Failure
The IDF and Shin Bet misread Hamas’s intentions — dismissing live-fire drills and surveillance activity as “defensive exercises.”
Overreliance on signals intelligence led to a dangerous underestimation of motivation and capability on the enemy’s side.
The IDF and Shin Bet misread Hamas’s intentions — dismissing live-fire drills and surveillance activity as “defensive exercises.”
Overreliance on signals intelligence led to a dangerous underestimation of motivation and capability on the enemy’s side.
2️⃣ Operational Planning Failure
Border defense plans were outdated and fragmented, lacking coordination between southern divisions.
No integrated plan existed for a large-scale, simultaneous breach along multiple border points.
Border defense plans were outdated and fragmented, lacking coordination between southern divisions.
No integrated plan existed for a large-scale, simultaneous breach along multiple border points.
3️⃣ Command & Control Breakdown
When the assault began, local commanders lost contact with senior headquarters.
Decision-making froze; communications and situational awareness collapsed in the first critical hours.
When the assault began, local commanders lost contact with senior headquarters.
Decision-making froze; communications and situational awareness collapsed in the first critical hours.
4️⃣ Force Readiness Failure
Key combat units had been redeployed away from Gaza, despite warnings.
Reserve activation orders were slow and confused, leaving entire communities undefended.
Key combat units had been redeployed away from Gaza, despite warnings.
Reserve activation orders were slow and confused, leaving entire communities undefended.
5️⃣ Technological Overconfidence
Sensors, cameras, and remote weapons along the Gaza border were neutralized within minutes.
Israel’s faith in its technology created blind spots when facing low-tech, high-initiative tactics.
Sensors, cameras, and remote weapons along the Gaza border were neutralized within minutes.
Israel’s faith in its technology created blind spots when facing low-tech, high-initiative tactics.
6️⃣ Cultural & Organizational Failure
Years of complacency and groupthink.
A top-down culture that discouraged dissent.
The assumption that “Hamas is deterred” became dogma — until it shattered on Oct 7.
Years of complacency and groupthink.
A top-down culture that discouraged dissent.
The assumption that “Hamas is deterred” became dogma — until it shattered on Oct 7.
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