Israeli police, military clash over Oct 7 probe results: Israeli media

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
31 Mar 2025 09:21
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Disagreements rise between Israeli police and military over the October 7 incidents, as mutual blame intensifies ahead of the report’s release on Wednesday.

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Israeli police and army in the West Bank village of Umm al-Khair, Wednesday, July 10, 2024 (AP)

As the release of the results of an investigation into the breaches and circumstances surrounding the Nova music festival, where many Israeli settlers were killed during the Palestinian Resistance's Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, 2023, draws near, tensions are escalating between the Israeli police and military.

According to Israeli media, questions have been raised regarding responsibility for the incident, with a campaign of mutual accusations unfolding ahead of the report’s publication on Wednesday.

In this context, police officials view the investigation into the Nova festival as an attempt to place blame on them, arguing that "this is not within the Israeli military's jurisdiction." They assert that it was the police "who risked their lives while the military was absent from the scene."

Israeli media reported that "the anger among senior police officials has reached a level where some have considered boycotting the presentation," with some emphasizing that "the police were the first line of defense for Israelis who were left unprotected by the military."

"We made decisions while others were in deep slumber," they were quoted as saying.

Police officers, in a veiled reference to the Israeli military, stressed, "Those who did nothing are now trying to undermine us, and we will not allow it."

The Israeli military spokesperson stated that the investigation findings would be presented transparently to the families of the killed, adding that the goal is to "draw lessons rather than assign blame."

Separately, Israeli journalist Avi Ashkenazi from Maariv commented on the investigation results regarding "the battle that never took place at Kibbutz Nir Oz," describing them as "catastrophic".

Ashkenazi remarked that the investigation "portrays the Israeli military as weak and disorganized," adding that "there are no gentler words to describe the military disgrace that unfolded at Nir Oz."

IOF brigade commander resigns over Oct 7 failures: 'I failed'

A couple of days ago, the commander responsible for the Israeli forces overseeing the Gaza border resigned, citing his failures on October 7.

Colonel Haim Cohen, the commander of the Northern Brigade within the IOF’s Southern Command, submitted his resignation to Major General Yaron Finkelman, the head of the Southern Command. In a letter that was made public on Wednesday, Cohen took responsibility for his brigade's failure to counter the surprise assault.

“On October 7, the brigade under my command failed in its mission to protect the residents of the Gaza envelope when a surprise war broke out,” Cohen stated in his letter, adding that “in terms of results, I failed!!!”

Cohen was responsible for overseeing the area that included the Nova music festival site and the kibbutzim Be’eri and Nahal Oz, some of the hardest-hit locations during the attack.

Instead of leading on the ground, he opted to direct operations from the division’s command center. “The brigade commander should have positioned himself, as doctrine dictates in a surprise assault, in a location where he could influence the brigade-level battle from the field,” military investigators stated in their review.

Internal Israeli military investigations later identified him as being connected to major lapses in judgment and decision-making, including failures in securing the Nahal Oz military post.

IOF reveal results of October 7 probe

On March 4, "Israel" published the results of its investigation into the October 7, 2023, events at the village of Kfar Aza and the Nahal Oz base.

The investigation revealed a series of failures that allowed Hamas fighters to kill and capture Israeli settlers, one of which was the shortage of soldiers at the base.

The investigation stated that Military Intelligence and the General Security Service (Shin Bet) failed to issue any warning before the attack.

The investigation further detailed that 250 Hamas fighters entered Kfar Aza, killing 64 settlers and capturing 19 others, while the fighting continued in the area for three days.

According to the investigation, which highlights a series of leadership failures, "the failure to manage the fighting in Kfar Aza was due to serious mistakes made during the battle," and the lack of coordination between the forces" resulted in the tragic outcome of dozens being killed and captured."

The investigation also revealed that Hamas fighters were able to take control of Kfar Aza within the first hour of the attack due to a shortage of soldiers and the confusion that prevailed in the area.