Israeli army publishes main points, timeframe of investigation into Oct. 7 failures

Following the IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi's announcement last month that the Israeli military would begin an investigation of the failures on Oct. 7 and the events leading up to it, the IDF on Thursday published more details about the plan.

The investigation will cover the period from the onset of violent border protests in 2018, incited by the Hamas terrorist organization, to Oct. 10, 2023, when Israel regained full security control over its territory following the Hamas invasion.

The probe will be conducted internally by the commanders of the respective IDF units and is meant as a first step, leading to an external investigation by an inspection committee.

Halevi had already appointed the members of the committee when the investigation was first announced and met with criticism from within the government, therefore, it was decided to postpone the external portion until the end of the internal investigations.

In a missive to the army commanders, Halevi wrote that the purpose of the investigation was to use the lessons learned to improve the effectiveness of the current battles; prepare for the next campaign; accelerate the return of the evacuated citizens to their homes; and build up the IDF’s competence and power creation.

“The investigation is the way to improve following a failure. The purpose of the investigation is only one – to learn,” Halevi wrote.

The pending investigation will focus on four main points, with results expected to be presented at the beginning of June.

The first goal of the probe will investigate the development of Israel’s perception of the Gaza Strip starting in 2018, with a special emphasis on the Gaza-Israel border.

In addition, the elements of the defense concept against Hamas and the range of the army’s operational plans dealing with its threat will be examined.

The second main point of the investigation will look at Israel’s intelligence about Hamas and the other terror organizations in the Gaza Strip and its perceptions of them over the period from 2018 until the day of the Hamas attack on Oct. 7.

This area of the probe will include several categories, such as Israel’s situation assessments with intelligence and strategic aspects; possible crisis scenarios; development of intel collection capabilities; the intelligence control mechanism; and the process of questioning assumptions.

Third, the IDF will examine the decision-making process on the night of Oct. 7 and the days before. This assessment will encompass decisions made at all levels, as well as the efficiency of the mechanisms designed to accurately assess the security situation.

Finally, a special focus will be on the first three days of the war, which concentrated on establishing control of the border area after it was overrun by Hamas terrorists and Gazan civilians.

The army will examine the use of force in all parts of the army, analyze the defensive battles in Gaza and command and control.

Alongside the four main targets of the investigation, the IDF's probe will include an analysis of major battles and events; the call-up of reserves and the logistical response; long-term planning of armaments and spare parts; collection and evacuation of casualties on Oct. 7; and the ability to continue functioning over time.