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: Israeli warplanes raided the outskirts of the town of Shmestar in Bekaa, eastern Lebanon
Donald Trump will speak with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Thursday: White House
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli warplanes raid the town of Bnaafoul, Saida district
YAF: Israeli enemy will pay for this crime.
Yemeni Armed Forces: Son of Major General Al-Ghamari martyred alongside him in Israeli aggression.
Yemeni Armed Forces: YAF mourns martyrdom of Chief of the General Staff Mohammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Palestinian shot and killed by IOF east of Al-Bureij camp in the central Gaza Strip
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Occupation forces opened machine gun fire toward outskirts of Aitaroun as locals headed for olive harvest.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone drops bomb at outskirts of town of Blida as people head for olive harvest.
Israeli media: Rafah crossing was not opened as planned, and no date has yet been set for the resumption of movement through it.

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

Iran warns against foreign interference in the Gulf, vows response

US spent $33 billion on post-Oct.7 genocide, wars, Brown Uni reports

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

Iran strikes secret Israeli-US bunker under Tel Aviv high-rise

Tel Aviv high-rise struck by Iran hid Site 81, secret US-Israeli base

  • Politics
  • 14 Oct 2025
Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jaafarawi in an undated image in Gaza, occupied Palestine (Social media)

Gaza Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jafarawi killed by collaborators

  • Politics
  • 12 Oct 2025
drop site

New report details extensive Israeli arson in Gaza after ceasefire

  • Politics
  • 13 Oct 2025
Illustration of fists breaking shackles, representing the liberation of Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons. (Illustrated by: AL Mayadeen English/Batoul Chamas)

4 prominent Palestinian detainees to be freed: Who are they?

  • Palestine
  • 13 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
A person shops at a grocery store in Schaumburg, Ill., Thursday, September 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Economy

75% of Americans report higher costs despite Trump’s inflation claim

With the government shutdown now in its third week, a sign turns away tourists at the entrance to the Capitol Visitor Center, in Washington, Wednesday, October 15, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Politics

US judge blocks shutdown layoffs amid Trump threats to cut jobs

Bill Ackman speaks about higher education and Harvard University at the twenty-eighth annual Milken Institute Global Conference at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, on May 6, 2025. (Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images)
Politics

Bill Ackman donates $1 mln to anti-Mamdani PAC in NYC mayoral race

Members of the Pentagon press corp carry their belongings out of the Pentagon after turning in their press credentials, on October 15, 2025 in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
US & Canada

Pentagon journalists vacate workspaces as new restrictions take effect

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