The Israeli government was criticized for failing to protect its citizens during the October 7 terrorist attacks in a civilian report released on Tuesday. The report attributed intelligence failures to Israel’s defense and intelligence establishment, as well as civilian leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The board conducting the inquiry called for an official government investigation into the attacks, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages taken as Hamas fighters infiltrated Israel and launched rockets. The report also pointed to failures by Israeli intelligence agencies, such as Shin Bet, to provide timely warnings. Former defense minister Benny Gantz and other officials called for a state commission of inquiry to be established to address the failures and begin the process of healing and rebuilding public trust. The government was also criticized for reducing troop presence near Gaza and failing to act on warning signs. The failure to protect communities like Be’eri, which was devastated by the attack, was attributed to grave errors in the military’s response. Former soldiers reported that their warnings about suspicious Hamas activity prior to the attacks were ignored. The report highlighted the deep impact of the attacks, which shook Israeli society and led to a war that claimed more than 44,000 lives in Gaza, mainly women and children.
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