Israel's military has dismissed three generals and disciplined multiple senior officers for systemic failures during Hamas's October 2023 assault, marking the first major accountability measures since the attack that killed 1,221 people. The decision follows a two-week internal investigation ordered by military chief Eyal Zamir, which revealed "long-standing organizational failures" and critical intelligence lapses.
Among those dismissed are former Southern Command chief Gen. Yaron Finkelman and a divisional intelligence head. Disciplinary actions also targeted naval and air force leaders. The military statement emphasized "personal responsibility" for failing to prevent Hamas's Gaza-based militants from breaching defenses.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose government has resisted calls for a state inquiry, faces growing public pressure as polls show broad support for accountability. Defense Minister Israel Katz has tasked comptroller Yair Wolansky with reviewing the military's findings, amid reported tensions with Zamir over Gaza war strategy.
The October 2023 attack triggered a two-year conflict that has claimed 69,756 Palestinian lives according to UN-verified data. Recent developments include a fragile ceasefire brokered last month, though Hamas accuses Israel of violating terms by shifting demarcation lines. A Hamas delegation is currently negotiating Phase Two of the U.S.-mediated truce in Cairo.
