Shin Bet joins IOF in Investigating October 7 failures: Reports

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
7 Mar 2024 15:05

The military analyst of the Israeli Walla! website says that estimations within the security and military establishment suggest that the investigation will trigger disputes among senior officials.

Sharon Halevi, right, touches her husband the then newly appointed Israeli chief of staff Herzi Halevi Monday January 16, 2023. (AP)

Israeli media reports indicate that the Israeli army and the Shin Bet are considering opening investigations and conducting inquiries into the military failures on October 7 and the subsequent setbacks.

The military analyst of the Israeli Walla! website, Amir Bohbot, said that estimations within the security and military establishment suggest that the investigation will trigger disputes among senior officials in the Israeli army regarding the narrative, investigations, data, and analysis of the events and decisions that led to October 7.

"Debates that may harm the functioning of the Israeli army as a whole," he added.

Regardless, the investigation and ensuing disputes might enhance Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi's influence within the current General Staff, potentially mitigating the political echelon's power to a considerable extent, as per Bohbot.

He went on to say that Halevi is set to issue an order on Thursday, updating the entire Israeli army to officially commence a series of investigations in commands, wings, arms, and troops. This is despite the fact that some units in the Israeli army, including the 8200, have already initiated investigations, as reported by Walla!.

Until now, the Chief of Staff has delayed the date for the investigations into the war and the decisions that led to it, he further stressed.

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Bohbot said that Halevi justified his decision by saying that it is inappropriate to conduct an investigation while the Israeli army is actively involved in a war on the southern front against Hamas and a limited campaign against Hezbollah in the North.

As of now, schedules, details about the investigation's subjects, and the leaders of the investigative teams have not been disclosed to the public. Additionally, the identity of the team tasked with investigating Chief of Staff Halevi's actions in the period preceding the war, especially on the night of October 7, remains undisclosed, as per Bohbot.

"In addition to the matter of delaying the investigation and hasty appointments, the Chief of Staff is also criticized for continuing to promote his multi-year plan ..... and may not suit the needs of the IDF during the war and the day after," he said.

In a new development, the Israeli Shin Bet, led by Ronen Bar, has initiated operational investigations into relevant units for the first time since the start of the war, Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported.

This move adds the Shin Bet as another side investigating October 7. Sources within the Shin Bet anticipate that the investigations may extend over several weeks or even months, given the ongoing wartime conditions, as per the newspaper.