On November 23, the Israeli military announced the dismissal of three generals and disciplinary actions against several senior officers for their failure to prevent the October 7, 2023 assault by Hamas from the Gaza Strip.
The move follows a report published earlier this month by a committee of experts appointed by Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir. The report cited a “long-standing systemic and organizational failure,” highlighting intelligence gaps, deficient decision-making and force deployment breakdowns during the night of the attack.
Among those dismissed were three divisional commanders—one of whom served as the military intelligence chief—and the former head of the southern command, General Yaron Finkelman, who had already resigned. Disciplinary measures also hit the heads of the navy and air force, plus four other generals and several senior officers.
Public pressure has grown for a state commission of inquiry, with polls showing support across the political spectrum. To date, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has resisted forming a formal panel, insisting failures be reviewed only after the war in Gaza ends. Now entering its third year, the conflict has claimed 1,221 Israeli lives in the initial assault and at least 69,756 deaths in Gaza from retaliatory strikes, according to figures from the Gaza health ministry deemed reliable by the UN.
Defense Minister Israel Katz this week tasked the defense establishment’s comptroller, Yair Wolansky, with reviewing the expert report to determine if further investigations are needed. The announcement underscored growing tension between Katz and Zamir, who have differed on war strategy.
Meanwhile, ceasefire frictions persist along the so-called Yellow Line, where Israeli troops recently shot three militants for crossing the agreed boundary. Hamas has dispatched a high-level delegation to Cairo to negotiate the second phase of the U.S.-brokered truce that began on October 10.
The latest dismissals mark a rare moment of accountability in a protracted conflict, raising questions about military reform and political oversight as Israel seeks to learn from past failures.
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Israeli military sacks several generals over October 7 attack
cgtn.com
