Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Two were martyred in an initial toll of the Israeli drone strike that targeted the al-Asira neighborhood in the city of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An Israeli drone strike targeted the al-Asira neighborhood east of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon
Sheikh Naim Qassem to the pager attack survivors: You are the greatest resistance. Know that 'Israel' will fall because it embodies aggression, crime, and occupation; victory is truly yours
Sheikh Qassem to the pager attack survivors: The value of what you are doing despite your wounds is immense, and here you are, treading the path of the Master of Nation's Martyrs and the leaders
Sheikh Qassem to the pager attack survivors: You are moving forward with insight deeper than sight itself. The enemy sought to eliminate your role in the battle, yet you remain steadfast and continue the fight
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem to the pager attack survivors one year later: You are healing from your wounds and rising above them. You have successfully passed the test
Palestinian media: Reports of stabbing operation in occupied al-Quds.
Israeli media: Sirens blare in Arava in South, near Ramon Airport.
Egyptian PM Mostafa Madbouli: Egypt is targeted in plans to redraw regional map
AEOI Chief Mohammad Eslami: Our presence in IAEA General Council and fact-checking helped in preventing unilateral rhetoric that aims to portray Iran as an unregulated country

IOF ignored intel of threats before Oct.7: Israeli media

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Israeli media
  • 27 Jan 2025 15:34
  • 2 Shares
4 Min Read

Israeli media reports indicate that Israeli intelligence detected Hamas planning an attack on the occupied territories but failed to act on the warning, leaving the reasons for inaction unclear.

Listen
  • x
  • Palestinians celebrate by a destroyed Israeli tank at the Gaza Strip fence east of Khan Younis on October 7, 2023. (AP)
    Palestinians celebrate by a destroyed Israeli tank at the Gaza Strip fence east of Khan Younis on October 7, 2023. (AP)

Israeli media reported on Monday that an IOF intelligence unit had gathered information about a potential rocket attack on the occupied territories before October 7 and detected "unusual activity" from Hamas' aerial force, suggesting the group may have been on high alert.

According to Ynet, the indications, including the potential rocket fire and other gathered intelligence, were discussed during IOF consultations in the following hours. However, they did not lead to a decision to raise the alarm about a possible Hamas operation or prompt any significant actions.

According to the report, this information was included in documents reviewed by senior government and security officials and was used in their arguments for the resignation of Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi.

'They knew, but didn't act'

Contrary to earlier reports, the report reveals that the IOF not only believed Hamas was preparing for a military exercise or to defend against a potential Israeli attack but also seriously considered the possibility of an imminent operation in the occupied territories.

However, the report states that despite these concerns, the IOF chose a limited number of actions. The IOF opted to protect sensitive intelligence sources rather than prioritize preparedness. These revelations highlight a crucial aspect of that night, with a participant in recent consultations describing the situation as "a nuclear bomb."

Related News

Netanyahu afraid of Oct. 7 probe as failures resurface: Israeli media

Oct. 7 attack major Israeli intel failure: New Shin Bet chief

Since the operation, the report indicates, additional intelligence, such as the use of Israeli SIM cards and the deployment of emergency assets in the Strip has surfaced.

On that note, a participant in the discussions revealed that a senior officer had questioned why no steps were taken to prepare for a rocket attack, including relocating the thousands of people at the Nova music festival near the border, where there were insufficient shelters to protect against rocket and mortar strikes, the report stressed. 

Southern Command summary 

As mentioned in the report, at 2 am, the Air Force duty command center was alerted to unusual activity in Hamas' aerial units. At the same time, additional indications of preparations for a rocket strike were received. This information was discussed during a call between Yaron Finkelman, the chief of Southern Command, and other senior officers, Shin Bet representatives, and an Air Force representative, who concluded simply, that an "unusual activity was identified."

Finkelman outlined three possibilities, with the third being an attack.

The report mentioned that a Summary of the Southern Command's consultations was delivered to Chief of IOF Operations General Oded Basyuk, who conducted several telephone calls.

He wrote "After consulting the deputy head of Shin Bet, commander of the Southern Command, operations commander and intelligence research department chief, there are three possible scenarios," adding that  "A Hamas drill, increased preparedness to defend against an Israeli attack, preparations for an operation against Israel in the coming hours including incursion from the sea or a strike on the gas rig, breaching the border, abduction, shooting attack, rocket attack and an incursion from the air."

As per the report, Finkelman ordered several actions, including a review of "Israel's" aerial defenses around the gas rig. Despite reportedly recognizing the risk of a rocket strike, abduction, or "an unusual terror attack," the conclusion was to prioritize safeguarding sensitive intelligence sources and coordinating actions with military intelligence.

That said, the Ynet report added that a later review revealed that the Intelligence Forces' operational brigade was not consulted about the possible deployment of forces along the border during the overnight hours, sparking an ongoing debate over responsibility for the failure to "contain" the event. 

  • October 7
  • Operation Al-Aqsa Flood
  • Palestine
  • Israel
  • nova festival
  • Herzi Halevi
  • Israeli occupation
  • Hamas

Most Read

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Why is Choose Love using a firm with British and US intelligence connections to run a pro-Palestine musical event? (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Together for Palestine: Troubling questions about the organisers of this huge event

  • Opinion
  • 17 Sep 2025
Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

  • Palestine
  • 14 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A Hezbollah supporter who lost his sight in a pager attack carried out by "Israel" on Sept. 17, 2024, covers his eyes with a red headband inscribed with the name "Hussein" during Ashoura, July 6, 2025 (AP)
Politics

'We Have Recovered': Lebanon marks 1st anniversary of Pager Attack

The Arab neighborhood of El Za'im, on the outskirts of east Occupied Al-Quds in the West Bank, near where Israeli government says housing units will be built as part of the E1 settlement project, Thursday, August 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Palestine

'Israel’s' deliberate policies drive West Bank economy toward collapse

Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Politics

Ben & Jerry’s co-founder resigns over parent company curbing activism

Trump’s approval rating falls to new low in second term: Poll
US & Canada

Trump’s approval rating falls to new low in second term: Poll

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS