Herzi Halevi, Israel’s Army Chief of General Staff, described October 7, 2023, as the day when Israel “failed in our mission to protect the citizens of the State of Israel.”
In a letter to Israeli soldiers commemorating the anniversary of the brutal attack, he stated that “October 7 is not only a day of remembrance but also a call for deep introspection” and a moment to acknowledge failures and commit to learning from them.
On that day, terrorists from Hamas and other extremist groups killed over 1,200 people in Israel and abducted approximately 250 more, taking them hostage in the Gaza Strip. This event marked the beginning of the Gaza war, during which the Hamas-controlled health authority reports that around 42,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed.
Halevi noted that while Hamas’ military wing has been defeated, the battle against the group’s terrorist infrastructure will persist. Regarding Hezbollah in Lebanon, he mentioned that the militia has suffered significant losses.
“We will not stop,” Halevi asserted. “We are dismantling our enemies’ capabilities and will ensure they cannot be rebuilt, so that October 7 is never repeated.”
