Oct. 7 attack major Israeli intel failure: New Shin Bet chief
2 Min Read
David Zini, the newly appointed head of Shin Bet, described the Al-Aqsa Flood operation as a “profound and large-scale” intelligence failure.
-
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu walks with IOF Chief of Staff David Zini (Social media)
The newly appointed head of "Israel's" Shin Bet, David Zini, admitted, in his first public statement before officially assuming the position, that Hamas' Al-Aqsa Flood Operation on October 7, 2023, whereby Resistance fighters carried out a surprise attack on settlements bordering Gaza, represented a "profound and large-scale" security and intelligence failure.
During a farewell ceremony held at a military base in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, Zini stated, "A failure of this magnitude is not isolated, it is deep and far-reaching."
Zini has concluded his military duties in preparation for assuming the role of Shin Bet chief in mid-June, succeeding Ronen Bar, who will step down on June 15 following intense disagreements with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
New Shin Bet chief draws controversy
In May, Netanyahu announced Zini's appointment to the position despite "legal objections and widespread criticism" from opposition parties. The Israeli Supreme Court later ruled the appointment "unlawful".
Major General David Zini, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Shin Bet chief appointee, has drawn fierce backlash from families of Gaza-held captives following reports that he expressed resistance to both a ceasefire in Gaza and a potential deal to secure the hostages' release.
Channel 12 reports Maj. Gen. David Zini told a closed Israeli military meeting, "I'm against hostage deals, this is an eternal war," though the statement's timing and exact wording remain unconfirmed, with the remarks gaining new relevance as Zini prepares to oversee hostage negotiations.
Another report by Channel 12 cited the new Shin Bet Chief sounding his opposition to prioritizing the return of the Israeli captives, telling former IOF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, “You prioritize the return of the hostages over destroying Hamas.”
According to sources cited in the report, Zini has consistently opposed negotiating deals for the captives' return, with Channel 12 revealing that he explicitly told military colleagues, "I'm against hostage deals, this is an eternal war," a stance that has now drawn scrutiny as he prepares to assume a key security role.
