IDF ex-chief owns up to failures in 7 October Hamas attack, says his role must be investigated too

Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) former chief of staff Aviv Kohavi broke his silence after 100 days of Israel-Hamas war and in his first remarks since 7 October Hamas’ attack, he took responsibility for the actions taken as the military’s top general, saying they will need to be looked into as well as part of investigations.

“I am responsible for the decisions and actions taken in the IDF during my time as chief of staff, and I constantly ask myself what we could have done differently,” Kohavi says during a memorial event for the “Lamed Hey,” a convoy of 35 Hagana soldiers who were ambushed and killed in 1948.

Kohavi further said, on 7 October, “the wall was completely breached, exposing cruelty the mind cannot comprehend. And hate that will not disappear in another generation.”

He went on to say, “7 October is both a shocking and a defining event, which requires a deep understanding and incisive investigations. The incident will have to be examined from all angles, in all areas, and with a multi-year perspective, and within that, of course, also the period in which I commanded the IDF.”

“This is an incident that requires a learning process and professional and thorough investigations, which will have to take into account a broad and comprehensive view, looking into facts that are still missing, weighing classified details, and drawing reasoned, sharp and realistic conclusions,” he added.

Kohavi further said Israel will need to “re-examine the perception of war and security, along with peace and agreements.”

“This is not the War of Independence, but we will have to define and resurrect the national goals and their order of priority, and remember that security is the first and necessary condition for our existence here,” he added.