One of the most important news about the situation in the Middle East occurred in the Israeli defense system. Several high-ranking SAHAL commanders - three generals and dozens of officers - were dismissed for their failure to fully prepare for the attack carried out by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and for their erroneous decisions. According to AFP, according to the General Staff's decision, they will not only be removed from service but also removed from the reserve list.
Which commanders were dismissed?
Among those sentenced are Aaron Khaliva, the former head of SAHAL intelligence, Oded Basyuk, the then-head of the operational administration, and Major General Yaron Finkelman, who headed the Southern Military District. Finkelman and Khaliva resigned as early as January 2025, while Basyuk left his post following tensions between Iran and Israel. Also, according to the decision, disciplinary measures were applied to the head of the Israeli Air Force, Tomer Bar, and nine other high-ranking military personnel were also held accountable.
Changes in the General Staff and internal criticism
Hersey Halevi - Chief of the General Staff since January 2023 - resigned in March, feeling a personal responsibility for the October 7 failure. He was succeeded by Eyal Zamir, who, upon taking office, ordered a one-on-one evaluation and re-examination of the commanders responsible for the shortcomings of October 7.
The main factor that led to the departure of the generals was the report of independent experts, published at the beginning of November. It strongly criticized the incorrect decisions accumulated over the years, serious errors in troop deployment, and disruptions in the chain of command. The report states that intelligence agencies could have been aware of a major offensive in advance, but this did not happen due to a "improper perception of strategic reality."
Political tensions have also increased
Following the announcement of the decision, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Kas stated that the matter needed "a thorough investigation" and expressed strong disapproval through the press for being aware of the decision. His statement further strained relations between the Chief of the General Staff, Zamir. Zamir rated the comments about questioning the report as "surprising and incomprehensible."
The events of October 7 are the starting point of the conflict
As is known, Hamas, recognized as a terrorist organization in the European Union and the USA, launched a large-scale attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The fighters launched missile strikes on Israel, entered its territory, and killed approximately 1,200 civilians. Another 250 hostages were taken to Gaza.
In response to this attack, Israel declared war on Hamas. It is said that more than 67,000 Palestinians were killed and hundreds of thousands were wounded in Gaza during the war. These events exacerbated the political and military situation in the Middle East, turning into a fierce conflict that continues to this day.
Conclusion
The dismissal of high-ranking commanders in the Israeli army is considered one of the largest purges in the country's security system. It is said that this decision was made in recognition of systemic errors that led to the tragic attack on October 7, their elimination and prevention of future risks.
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