A senior Israeli military intelligence officer dismissed a detailed warning predicting a Hamas attack on October 7th, calling it an “imaginary scenario”, two people familiar with the matter told the Financial Times.
Guards on Israel’s border with Gaza, often female soldiers who watch and analyze video footage and other data collected near the electronic fence towards the Palestinian territory, sent the top intelligence officer at the southern command a detailed report weeks before the attack, both sources told the Financial Times.
The report was sent over a secure communications system and contained specific warnings, including that Hamas was training to blow up border posts in several locations, then enter Israeli territory and seize kibbutzim, said a person with direct knowledge of the contents of the warning.
Israel’s failure to prevent the attack, which killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, is now seen as its biggest intelligence failure since Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack in 1973 on Yom Kippur, Judaism’s holiest day.
Hamas also practiced taking hostages, Israeli soldiers had a premonition that an attack was inevitable
Lower-ranking soldiers also warned that their analysis showed that Hamas had practiced hostage-taking and that they had a premonition that an attack was imminent.
High-ranking intelligence officer: “It’s an imaginary scenario”
“This is an imaginary scenario,” the senior intelligence officer replied, according to a description of the communication obtained by the Financial Times.
No action was taken, said a source familiar with the information. KAN, Israel’s public broadcaster, reported two nights ago thedetails of a similar warning sent by junior officers to their superiors. KAN added that the warning includes the possibility of the downing of the aircraft and the raising of the Hamas flag over Israeli territory.
Another person familiar with the matter said the failure to take the report seriously has become a point of contention within the intelligence community. Disciplinary sanctions are also mentioned. This person is familiar with similar communication.
What does the IDF say now?
In response to an inquiry by the Financial Times, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its “commanders and soldiers are strictly and exclusively focused” on their mission against Hamas. “After the war, a thorough investigation will be conducted to clarify all the details,” the IDF replied.
Two people familiar with the communications told the Financial Times that discussions within the intelligence community about not acting on warnings were similar to those after intelligence failures in the run-up to the 1973 war, N1 reports.
E.Dz.
