This week, the IDF released its official report on the failures that enabled the October 7 massacre. 

Findings include a severe underestimation of Hamas, ignored intelligence warnings, and an over-reliance on border defenses like fences and cameras. When the attack came, these systems failed, and the military was unprepared.

The delayed response was particularly shocking. Many soldiers were caught off guard on a Shabbat and holiday, with no reinforcements sent south for hours. At Nahal Oz, a base less than a kilometer from Gaza, Hamas easily overran unarmed soldiers. IDF Chief of Staff Halevi had warned about the base’s vulnerability, but funding was denied.

This report shakes public trust in the IDF, long seen as Israel’s most respected institution. The army isn’t just an organization—it’s made up of Israelis' own children. Meanwhile, frustration grows over government spending, with billions allocated to Haredi communities while the military lacks resources. The big question: Can the IDF rebuild trust and reform?

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