The Israeli State Comptroller's Office is currently investigating possible intelligence failures leading up to the October 7 terror attack by Hamas. The Supreme Court recently denied a request by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to delay the inquiry, a decision that has been welcomed by the Comptroller's Office.
The office has emphasized the importance of all audited entities ensuring their cooperation with the investigation. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi acknowledged his responsibility for the failure of the IDF to protect civilians during the October 7 attack. Speaking at Israel's Memorial Day ceremony at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, Halevi expressed the weight of this responsibility on him daily.
The October 7 attack, which triggered Israel's current offensive against Hamas, has been widely regarded as an intelligence lapse. Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva, the Israeli military intelligence chief, resigned last month in the aftermath of the attacks, becoming the first senior military figure to step down.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that an investigation should be conducted following the ongoing conflict with Hamas, which has been ongoing for over seven months. In a November interview, Netanyahu declined to comment on whether he would take responsibility for the failure to prevent the deadly incursion.
