On 7 October 2023, one of the largest terrorist attacks in Israel’s history took place – a Hamas attack on citizens and military targets. A civic commission set up by the victims’ families and representatives of NGOs published its findings on the causes of this tragedy. According to the commission members, the “arrogance” and “groupthink” of Israel’s top leadership, which did not allow critical voices and continued to ignore real threats, led directly to the disaster, the Jerusalem Post reports.
The commission, headed by former judge Warda Alsheikh, found serious failings in the behaviour of the government and security forces, starting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to their findings, the Netanyahu government’s “pay for silence” policy not only fuelled Hamas, but also created an illusion of security that led to a lack of adequate preparation for an attack.
The Commission noted that many warnings from senior officers and intelligence were not properly taken into account. For example, warnings from the Chief of Staff and Shin Bet leaders were not given due consideration, and the threat assessment from Hamas was ignored. In addition, the commission pointed to a complete imbalance in decision-making, which led to the fact that even during the war, in particular after 7 October, Prime Minister Netanyahu continued to act without consulting the military and intelligence.
The commission also noted serious problems in the interaction between the police and the Israeli army, which led to an ineffective response to the attacks, in particular at the Nova festival and the Nahal Oz base. Due to an over-reliance on technology, some units were not even equipped with the necessary weapons for self-defence.
“Arrogance and an inability to discuss” were the main reasons why the government failed to prepare for such a catastrophe, the commission stressed. It also noted that the events of 7 October continue to have a serious impact on security in Israel and require profound changes in the country’s political and military leadership.
Among the commission’s recommendations are the introduction of a culture of responsibility in decision-making, including in the area of national security, and ensuring openness in security discussions among all branches of government.
