By Shahrokh Saei
Israelis dismiss army’s report on Operation Al-Aqsa Storm as a “deception”
TEHRAN- The results of the Israeli army’s first investigation into failures during the surprise military operation by the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement on October 7 have led to widespread criticism and embarrassment for the regime.
In a report published on Thursday, the army acknowledged a string of errors in its response to Operation Al-Aqsa Storm including slow response times and disorganization.
More than 1,100 people were killed and about 250 others were taken captive when Hamas carried out the operation in southern Israel.
The report focuses on the community of Kibbutz Be’eri which saw one of the highest-profile confrontations between Israelis and Palestinian resistance fighters during Operation Al-Aqsa Storm. It referred to delays of several hours in the arrival of Israeli troops saying they waited outside the kibbutz into the afternoon, not understanding the severity of the situation.
The army is accused of killing more than a dozen Israelis by friendly fire amid clashes with Hamas fighters.
An Israeli tank fired two shells on a house where 13 captives were being held in Kibbutz Be’eri.
The Israeli army report claims that none of the captives was harmed by the tank fire.
It, however, says two Israelis were hit by shrapnel outside the house and one of them lost his life.
The Israeli army accuses Hamas of killing the captives without providing any evidence to back up the claim.
Deceptive report
Residents of Kibbutz Be’eri have raised serious doubts about the veracity of the report.
A resident whose family members were killed on October 7, called the report a “deception”.
“I don’t believe the report, and I don’t believe anything about it,” Meir Zarbiv added, according to the Associated Press.
Zarbiv lashed out at the Israeli army for its ill-preparedness in the face of Hamas’ operation.
“I just don’t believe what happened here. I have no explanation. Where was the army?”
The Israeli military spokesman has also admitted that the regime’s troops had been overwhelmed by Hamas fighters.
“The army failed in its mission to protect the residents of Kibbutz Be’eri. It is painful and difficult for me to say that,” Daniel Hagari said.
Several Israeli military commanders have so far taken responsibility for the regime’s fiasco on October 7.
The Israeli military intelligence chief became the first senior figure to resign amid the repercussions of Operation Al-Aqsa Storm.
Major General Aharon Haliva, who had served 38 years in the Israeli army, stepped down in April saying in a statement, "The intelligence division under my command did not live up to the task we were entrusted with. I have carried that black day with me ever since."
October 7 was really a “black day” for Israel because Hamas shattered the image of Israel’s invincibility and humiliated the regime.
The Hamas operation was followed by Israel’s brutal onslaught on Gaza.
The Israeli army has been bombing Gaza for more than nine months. The regime of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has butchered more than 38,300 Palestinians in Gaza but it has failed to bring the Palestinian resistance to its knees.
Presently, Hamas has the upper hand in the Gaza battlefield as it continues to deal crushing blows to Israeli forces.
Israel’s inability to defeat Hamas has led to deep divisions within the Israeli establishment.
Although the Israeli army has launched multiple investigations into its failures to anticipate and prevent the Hamas’ operation, Netanyahu has rejected repeated calls for an official state probe.
This is because the Israeli premier believes the continuation of the Gaza war offers him a lifeline. If the war ended, Netanyahu would be held accountable for failing to avert Operation Al-Aqsa Storm.
Netanyahu reiterated on Thursday that he will continue the war until Israel achieves its war objectives.
Since the start of the war, achieving “total victory” over Hamas and “destroying” the resistance group have been Netanyahu’s main objectives.
But his dreams have remained elusive.
Over the past months, Israeli officials and public have called on Netanyahu to reach a deal with Hamas to secure the release of the remaining captives.
More than 100 captives were released following a November ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. Dozens of the captives are believed to have died during Israeli strikes in Gaza. Netanyahu is now rejecting growing calls to sign a truce agreement with Hamas in a bid to free the remaining captives.
Israel failed to prevent the Hamas’ October7 attack. It has also been incapable of eliminating Hamas. The Netanyahu regime can prolong the war as long as the United States provides it with unwavering military and political support.
The Israeli army's total fatalities since the launch of the Gaza onslaught have topped 680.
Undoubtedly, more Israeli soldiers will lose their lives if the war drags on for much longer.
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