Former IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, who was serving as Israel’s top military commander during the catastrophic failures of October 7, 2023, claimed credit Sunday evening for the military pressure that helped secure the return of Israeli hostages from Gaza, while directing criticism at Israel’s political leadership. Speaking at a conference hosted by the Shurat HaDin organization in New York, Halevi declared, “Without strong military pressure inside Gaza, we would not have been able to bring back the hostages. I can prove it.” He also claimed that the military had spent considerable time persuading the government to authorize a ground maneuver in Gaza.
2+Halevi’s remarks, however, overlook the significant disagreements that emerged throughout the war between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior defense officials over the continuation and expansion of military operations. While Netanyahu repeatedly insisted that sustained military pressure was essential both to securing the hostages’ release and defeating Hamas, senior security officials opposed expanding military operations at various stages, instead favoring more limited measures.
2+Halevi is now seeking to attribute the results of that military pressure to the IDF, while simultaneously portraying the political leadership as an obstacle that the military had to persuade to act. During the same address, the former chief of staff also acknowledged that Israeli military strikes had killed hostages held in Gaza. “Unfortunately, we made mistakes. Our bombs killed hostages. We didn’t know they were there,” Halevi said. His admission came nearly three years after the October 7 massacre, which occurred under his command, even as he sought to emphasize the military’s achievements during his tenure.
2+Halevi also addressed allegations of internal betrayal surrounding the October 7 attack, categorically rejecting claims that anyone within Israel’s security establishment had deliberately assisted Hamas. “October 7 was a preventable failure, but there was 100 percent no betrayal from within,” he declared, calling on Israel’s political leadership to state that conclusion clearly and publicly.
According to Halevi, nearly three years after the massacre, not a single individual within the security establishment had been identified as having assisted Hamas. He further revealed that during the late morning hours of October 7, the IDF had already delivered a warning to Hezbollah, making clear that any military action against Israel would be met with a severe strike against Lebanon.