'The worst gamble in Israeli military history': Amos Harel on the failures of October 7

Haaretz defense analyst Amos Harel has labeled the decision by Israeli top generals and intelligence chiefs not to put the IDF on high alert before the October 7 Hamas attack as the "worst gamble in Israeli military history." Harel, author of "6:29: Anatomy of a Failure," argues that the military and political leaders underestimated Hamas's capabilities and intentions that night.

The analyst claims that arrogance and a condescending misreading of Hamas were key factors in the Israeli forces' failure to anticipate the attack. The consequences of these mistakes have shaken public confidence in Israel's defense capabilities, and the legacy of October 7 continues to shape the country's political landscape, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's upcoming election campaign.

Brief written by urgent.news from Haaretz's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.