(DDM) – Israel’s military has dismissed three generals and imposed disciplinary sanctions on several senior officers following findings that exposed deep institutional failures ahead of Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack.
According to DDM corespondent, the decision, announced on Sunday, comes amid intensifying public demands for accountability and renewed scrutiny of Israel’s security establishment over what many citizens consider the gravest intelligence breakdown in the nation’s history.
The action follows two weeks after Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir called for a comprehensive and “systemic investigation” into the military missteps that allowed the assault to occur.
Hamas’s surprise attack in 2023 remains the deadliest the country has ever faced, leaving profound political, military, and psychological scars.
Families of victims and survivors have repeatedly demanded a state-backed commission of inquiry, but the Israeli government has yet to establish one.
Instead, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) moved forward with internal disciplinary measures targeting those directly responsible for frontline operational failures.
Among those removed are three divisional commanders, including the military intelligence chief in office during the attack.
According to reports cited by Arab News, the IDF stated that the officers bore personal responsibility for the institution’s failure to detect and thwart the Hamas operation launched from the Gaza Strip.
All three had previously submitted their resignations in the months after the incident, but the latest announcement formalises their dismissal.
The military also enacted disciplinary measures against the heads of the navy and air force.
Four additional generals and several senior officers were also sanctioned, reflecting the broad scope of the institutional failures uncovered.
These actions were triggered by a panel of experts appointed by Lt. Gen. Zamir, which released its report earlier this month.
The investigators concluded that the failures leading to the October 7 attack stemmed from “long-standing systemic and organizational breakdowns” across multiple branches of Israel’s defence apparatus.
The panel found that military intelligence held “exceptional, high-quality information” prior to the assault.
However, analysts failed to interpret the intelligence correctly, did not raise alarms, and misjudged Hamas’s intent and operational readiness.
The report further criticised lapses in decision-making and inadequate deployment of troops during the early hours of the attack.
It stated that the chain of command displayed poor coordination, flawed judgment, and a dangerous level of complacency.
The conclusions echo long-standing concerns within Israel that intelligence agencies had become too confident in their assessment that Hamas was deterred and unwilling to escalate.
The October 7 assault shattered that assumption, triggering a prolonged conflict, wide-scale mobilisation, and an unprecedented national reckoning.
Public criticism of the military leadership has since intensified, with many Israelis demanding accountability from both commanders and political leaders.
Despite growing pressure, the government has not yet formed an independent commission, prompting concerns of political interference in the investigative process.
Analysts believe the dismissals mark the beginning of a wider restructuring that could reshape Israel’s military posture and intelligence frameworks.
Observers say the disciplinary measures signal an attempt by the IDF to restore public trust, reassure grieving families, and demonstrate willingness to address internal failures.
The military has pledged additional reforms aimed at preventing the recurrence of similar lapses and strengthening early-warning systems.
However, critics maintain that only a full state inquiry can provide transparency and ensure accountability across both military and civilian leadership.
For now, the dismissals highlight the immense fallout from the October 7 operation and the profound lessons Israel continues to confront.